Alabama Fires Head Coach Anthony Grant

The Alabama Crimson Tide fired men’s basketball head coach Anthony Grant after six seasons, the school announced Sunday.  It had been three straight seasons that the Crimson Tide had failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, while the long-time rival Auburn Tigers had begun an upswing.

“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,” Alabama athletic director Bill Battle said in a statement. “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.

“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.”

During Grant’s tenure, Alabama went a disappointing 117-85 while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament once (2012) and NIT twice (2011 and 2013).  Grant had previously been known for knocking off the Duke Blue Devils in the first round while leading the VCU Rams.  Still, after three consecutive 20-win seasons, the Crimson Tide limped to an 18-14 campaign leaving the athletic department looking for answers.  The vacancy immediately becomes one of the top jobs on the market along with the DePaul job.    Expect Battle to conduct the search on a national level and fans shouldn’t anticipate the position to be filled until after the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament.

*Section Photo credit to Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Jeremy Brevard, USA Today Sports

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