Anthony Duvale Grant, born on April 15, 1966, is an American basketball coach currently serving as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton. Grant's basketball journey began at the University of Dayton, where he played from 1983 to 1987, leading the team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. After college, he briefly played for the Miami Tropics in the United States Basketball League before transitioning into coaching.
Grant's coaching career started as an assistant coach and math teacher at Miami Senior High School. He then spent ten years as an assistant to Billy Donovan at the University of Florida, where he played a pivotal role in the team's success, including winning the 2006 NCAA title.
Grant's head coaching career began at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he achieved notable success, including an upset victory over Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament. He later served as the head coach at the University of Alabama, leading the Crimson Tide to the NCAA tournament and NIT Final.
After his tenure at Alabama, Grant joined the Oklahoma City Thunder as an assistant coach before eventually returning to the college ranks as the head coach at the University of Dayton. He garnered national recognition for his coaching achievements, including being named Sporting News National Coach of the Year and Naismith College Coach of the Year for the 2019–20 season. Grant's dedication to the game and his ability to inspire players have solidified his position as a respected figure in collegiate basketball.
| Name | Anthony Grant |
| Title | Head Coach |
| League | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Record | 33–22 (.600) |
| Born | April 15, 1966 (age 57) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Coaching career | 1987–1992 Miami HS (assistant) 1992–1993 Miami Central HS 1993–1994 Stetson (assistant) 1994–1996 Marshall (assistant) 1996–2006 Florida (assistant) 2006–2009 VCU 2009–2015 Alabama 2015–2017 Oklahoma City Thunder (assistant) 2017–present Dayton |
| Nationality | American |
Anthony Grant Coaching Career
Anthony Grant's coaching career is marked by success and progression. Beginning as an assistant at Miami Senior High School, he ascended to prominence as an assistant to Billy Donovan at the University of Florida, contributing to the team's NCAA title in 2006. Grant's head coaching journey includes notable stints at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he led the team to NCAA tournament success, and the University of Alabama, achieving postseason appearances. Joining the Oklahoma City Thunder as an NBA assistant coach preceded his current role as the head coach at the University of Dayton, where he earned national recognition for his coaching prowess.
Anthony Grant's Accomplishments and Honors
Grant's coaching accomplishments include winning the CAA tournament twice (2007, and 2009) and clinching the regular season title thrice (2007–2009). Additionally, he secured the SEC Western Division title in 2011 and the A10 regular season title in 2020. Grant's coaching prowess earned him several prestigious awards in 2020, including the Naismith College Coach of the Year, AP National Coach of the Year, Henry Iba Award, NABC Coach of the Year, Sporting News National Coach of the Year, and Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. He was also honored as the CAA Coach of the Year in 2007.
Anthony Grant's Head Coaching Record
Anthony Grant's head coaching record reflects his tenure at various universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Dayton. Notable achievements include postseason appearances and conference titles, highlighting his coaching acumen and success on the court.
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| VCU Rams (Colonial Athletic Association) (2006–2009) | |||||
| 2006–07 | VCU | 28–7 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Division I Round of 32 |
| 2007–08 | VCU | 24–8 | 15–3 | 1st | NIT First Round |
| 2008–09 | VCU | 24–10 | 14–4 | 1st | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| VCU: | 76–25 (.752) | 45–9 (.833) | |||
| Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (2009–2015) | |||||
| 2009–10 | Alabama | 17–15 | 6–10 | T–4th (West) | |
| 2010–11 | Alabama | 25–12 | 12–4 | 1st (West) | NIT Runner–up |
| 2011–12 | Alabama | 21–12 | 9–7 | 5th | NCAA Division I Round of 64 |
| 2012–13 | Alabama | 23–13 | 12–6 | T–2nd | NIT Quarterfinal |
| 2013–14 | Alabama | 13–19 | 7–11 | T–10th | |
| 2014–15 | Alabama | 18–14 | 8–10 | T–8th | NIT Second Round* |
| Alabama: | 117–85 (.579) | 54–48 (.529) | |||
| Dayton Flyers (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2017–present) | |||||
| 2017–18 | Dayton | 14–17 | 8–10 | 9th | |
| 2018–19 | Dayton | 21–12 | 13–5 | 3rd | NIT First Round |
| 2019–20 | Dayton | 29–2 | 18–0 | 1st | No postseason held |
| 2020–21 | Dayton | 14–10 | 9–7 | 7th | NIT First Round |
| 2021–22 | Dayton | 24–11 | 14–4 | T–2nd | NIT Second Round |
| 2022–23 | Dayton | 22–12 | 12–6 | T–2nd | |
| 2023–24 | Dayton | 15–3 | 5–1 | ||
| Dayton: | 137–66 (.675) | 76–33 (.697) | |||
| Total: | 330–176 (.652) | ||||
Anthony Grant's Personal Life
Anthony Grant and his wife, Chris, tragically lost their only daughter, Jayda, to suicide. This marks the second time they have experienced such a devastating loss. Anthony's wife, Christina Harrell, stands as a pillar of support, frequently attending his games and offering unwavering encouragement during difficult times.
FAQ's On Dayton Basketball Coach
A. Anthony Grant is an American basketball coach currently serving as the head men's basketball coach at the University of Dayton.
A. Anthony Grant played college basketball at the University of Dayton from 1983 to 1987.
A. Anthony Grant has won several coaching awards, including the Naismith College Coach of the Year and the AP National Coach of the Year in 2020.
A. Anthony Grant has coached teams such as Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Dayton.
A. Anthony Grant and his wife, Chris, tragically lost their only daughter, Jayda, to suicide, marking the second time they have experienced such a devastating loss.
