🏀 Alabama Announces Change in Leadership of Men's Basketball Program

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Alabama Announces Change in Leadership of Men's Basketball Program
In his nine seasons as a college head coach, Grant's overall record is 193-110 (.637) at two schools, Virginia Commonwealth and Alabama


March 15, 2015


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - University of Alabama Director of Athletics Bill Battle announced Sunday a change in the leadership of the Crimson Tide men's basketball program.

"Earlier today, I informed Anthony Grant that he will not be retained as head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," Battle said. "This decision was reached only after a great deal of deliberation, but I feel it is in the best interests of the basketball program to make a change in leadership. This has been a very difficult decision, as I have the highest respect for Anthony as a coach, as a molder of young men, and as a person.

"Anthony is a man of impeccable character who has been an excellent representative of our program. He has made tremendous contributions to our program and we always will be grateful for his efforts. Anthony, his wife Chris, and their children have been tremendous assets to our University and our community.

"In this business we are ultimately judged by wins and losses on the court and, for a variety of reasons, we haven't made satisfactory progress in that area. We have a great university, and an excellent athletics program that has expectations for all of our teams to meet the highest standards in competition, in the classroom and in the community.

"Today's decision is part of a larger evaluation of every facet of our basketball program that is intended to improve every aspect of our basketball program. A key component in that effort is to get all of our fans pulling in the same direction, and to make Coleman Coliseum the best home court advantage in the SEC.

"Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will make no further comment regarding this decision or the coaching search. I want to extend my complete support to our players and our coaching staff. We will immediately begin a national search for a new head men's basketball coach."

Grant has a record of 117-85 (.579) in six seasons as the head coach at Alabama and has led the Tide to two NIT appearances (2011 and 2013) and one NCAA appearance (2012). In his nine seasons as a college head coach, Grant's overall record is 193-110 (.637) at two schools, Virginia Commonwealth and Alabama.


From Rolltide.com—Continue reading...
 
I'm of the opinion we just lost a good one. Too bad he couldn't turn many of those L's to W's this year.

-------------------------------------

Bill Battle's full statement on Grant's firing:

"Earlier today, I informed Anthony Grant that he will not be retained as head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," Battle said. "This decision was reached only after a great deal of deliberation, but I feel it is in the best interests of the basketball program to make a change in leadership. This has been a very difficult decision, as I have the highest respect for Anthony as a coach, as a molder of young men, and as a person.

"Anthony is a man of impeccable character who has been an excellent representative of our program. He has made tremendous contributions to our program and we always will be grateful for his efforts. Anthony, his wife Chris, and their children have been tremendous assets to our University and our community.

"In this business we are ultimately judged by wins and losses on the court and, for a variety of reasons, we haven't made satisfactory progress in that area. We have a great university, and an excellent athletics program that has expectations for all of our teams to meet the highest standards in competition, in the classroom and in the community.

"Today's decision is part of a larger evaluation of every facet of our basketball program that is intended to improve every aspect of our basketball program. A key component in that effort is to get all of our fans pulling in the same direction, and to make Coleman Coliseum the best home court advantage in the SEC.

"Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will make no further comment regarding this decision or the coaching search. I want to extend my complete support to our players and our coaching staff. We will immediately begin a national search for a new head men's basketball coach."
 
@planomateo we may all agree that Grant is a good man BUT, ultimately he didn't win over the fans or really try to sell his program to the fans and he didn't put up enough W's. I guess the 11th hour grumbling from enough boosters was enough to persuade Battle that he had to pull the plug.
 
March 15, 2015

Grant not retained as Alabama head basketball coach

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

The University of Alabama will replace head basketball coach Anthony Grant, UA confirmed on Sunday.

UA athletics director Bill Battle is expected to begin a national search for Grant's successor immediately, the source said.

Grant, who was hired in March 2009 from VCU, compiled a 117-85 record at UA, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012. In the last two seasons, however, UA had slipped to a 31-33 record, including a 15-21 mark in SEC play. Alabama was eliminated in the first round of the SEC Tournament in each of the past two seasons.

"Earlier today, I informed Anthony Grant that he will not be retained as head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," Battle said. "This decision was reached only after a great deal of deliberation, but I feel it is in the best interests of the basketball program to make a change in leadership. This has been a very difficult decision, as I have the highest respect for Anthony as a coach, as a molder of young men, and as a person.

"Anthony is a man of impeccable character who has been an excellent representative of our program. He has made tremendous contributions to our program and we always will be grateful for his efforts. Anthony, his wife Chris, and their children have been tremendous assets to our University and our community.

"In this business we are ultimately judged by wins and losses on the court and, for a variety of reasons, we haven't made satisfactory progress in that area. We have a great university, and an excellent athletics program that has expectations for all of our teams to meet the highest standards in competition, in the classroom and in the community.

"Today's decision is part of a larger evaluation of every facet of our basketball program that is intended to improve every aspect of our basketball program. A key component in that effort is to get all of our fans pulling in the same direction, and to make Coleman Coliseum the best home court advantage in the SEC.

"Out of respect for our players and coaches, I will make no further comment regarding this decision or the coaching search. I want to extend my complete support to our players and our coaching staff. We will immediately begin a national search for a new head men's basketball coach."

Grant has a record of 117-85 (.579) in six seasons as the head coach at Alabama and has led the Tide to two NIT appearances (2011 and 2013) and one NCAA appearance (2012). In his nine seasons as a college head coach, Grant's overall record is 193-110 (.637) at two schools, Virginia Commonwealth and Alabama.

https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1746919
 
I don't know who that Tim Welsh guy is on the NIT announcement show, nor do I care. I do believe the asshole could have kept his opinion to himself when they flashed our matchup with Illinois. The wise crack about BAMA firing Grant and "real classy and good luck!" really came across as uncalled for. For the record and if you would like to address Mr. Welsh via Twitter, his handle is @timwelsh5.
 
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I guess BB was listening to Alabama faithful and I am glad that he done the right thing. It needed to be done last year but that is water under the bridge. I am looking forward for the Coach that Bill hires and hopes that he goes after someone proven as a Head Coach and knows how to recruit the players Alabama should be able to get from anywhere in the Nation not just the S>E>
Wish Grant the best but this was best for the University.
ROLL TIDE ROLL
 
planomateo said:
I'm of the opinion we just lost a good one.
Click to expand...

I'm with you on this one.

I suspect we'll see him land at another program quickly and have success.

I think we all wanted to see the success he had in his career (prior to Tuscaloosa) translate to success for the basketball program.

I've seen many take what I consider legitimate reasons for what we've seen happen and call them excuses. From injuries, to disciplinary problems he inherited, along with some mistakes in evaluations...all of these factored in to what we've seen over the last few years.

He missed on one major ingredient and I do believe that is the final nail in the coffin. There was a disconnect with the fan base (due largely to Grant not trying to engage the fan base in the program.) That disconnect is magnified when expectations haven't been met and people like Coach Battle look at next season and speculate on what kind of fan support he'd receive.
 
I think that Coach Battle looked at our prospectus for next year. Assuming no attrition from the current roster, we lose two of our best players, Randolph and Cooper. We should get Hale and Tarrant back from their injuries. Our recruiting class is decent, but their are no game changers in there. There was no reason to expect that 2015-2016 would be drastically different from the 2014-2015 season.

Still, he might have survived another year had Auburn gone quietly in the SEC tournament. But much as I disapprove of Bruce Pearl, who seems to lack many of the desirable personal character qualities that Grant has, their SEC tournament run has their fan base energized for the next season, while our fan base is pretty dispirited. Time to put some sizzle back in Alabama basketball, and Grant is not the peron to do that.

Even if he does not land another HC job, Billy D will take cre of his longtime friend.
 
I think that Coach Battle ultimately looked at the dollars and cents. The disconnect between Grant and the fanbase meant fewer butts in the seats at Coleman, leading to fewer dollars being generated through ticket sales and concessions. It is a sad state of affairs when Grant was at the BJCC for the State Final Four and there were more fans in the stands there than what was coming into Coleman. I too feel that Grant will land on his feet and do well. I imagine he will get a mid major job, make a run and then get another good job. He just wasn't the right fit for us.
 
TheChief said:
I keep wondering what might have happened if Pearl had come to Bama when he could have been hired last year.
Click to expand...

I doubt we'd see much change in the way fans are viewing the program. I know I'd be pulling away; showing little if any interest at all.

@psychojoe mentions him and an impact he may have had on this decision. IF Battle is looking to Auburn's run in the SEC tourney and making his move with that in mind he's not the right man for the job. The point people are looking down there and using their tourney success as a motivation for a move like this one...doesn't sit well with me; AT ALL.
 
TheChief said:
I keep wondering what might have happened if Pearl had come to Bama when he could have been hired last year.
Click to expand...

I'm so glad we don't have Pearl. He's a liar and a cheat. We might as well have kept Gottfried. He's been blackballed twice - once by the coaching profession when he recorded phone calls with high school recruits to take down Illinois, and then again by the NCAA with a three year show cause. There are coaches who can win who don't have baggage. We just need to get one. Let aubrun have this character case, along with his Vol wife.

RTR,

Tim
 
Steele via http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/anthony_grant_fired_critics_2015.html

"It's a results business," Steele said. "Everybody always talks about how good a man he is and it's true. I hate it for a lot of reasons. You never want to make excuses, but you know, you throw in the fact that you had some key players leave, you always had guys getting hurt and there are so many games in all the years where one or two possessions change and the outlook is completely different. Taking all of that into account, I have no doubt wherever he decides to coach next, he'll be real successful."
 

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