So much for building the next Gonzaga.
03/27/2009
Just hours after Billy Donovan announced his intentions to stay in Florida. The University of Alabama announced it had reached an agreement in principle with Anthony Grant to become the next head coach of the Crimson Tide.
"We have been given the opportunity to create a very special situation for men's basketball at the University of Alabama and we look forward to getting started," said Grant. "There's a commitment throughout the athletic department to make sure that we have the resources necessary to compete for championships."
Grant met with Alabama officials in Richmond last weekend and then toured the campus Wednesday.
The deal seemed to stale late in the week with the speculation surrounding Kentucky's interest in the University of Florida's head coach Billy Donovan following the firing if Billy Gillespie.
The 42-year-old Grant previously served as an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida from 1996-2006 before becoming the head coach at VCU. When Donovan was rumored to be making a move to the NBA in 2007 Grant was considered to be his replacement. His career record with the Rams was 76-25, with a 45-9 conference mark, including a notable upset of the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Grant also has three regular season titles and two conference tournament titles in his three tenure.
Alabama finished 18-14 in 2008-09, with a 7-9 mark in the SEC. The Crimson Tide were ousted in the second round of the conference tourney by eventual runner-up Tennessee.
VCU will now begin the arduous task of trying to replace Grant. Rumor has it VCU will pursue one of Grant's assistants Tony Pujols. The idea being Pujols will be able to keep the remaining team intact as well as enticing top recruit Ben Eblen to honor his letter of intent.
I wonder when coaches will stop jumping ship for 'mo money. I mean he is getting paid a lot but there's no pride in that. He could have had easy street coaching around here. I'd like to think if I had a choice between a pile of cash and a pretty set career I'd probably take the career. I don't know maybe it's harder to get to the final four at a mid-major school. I didn't exactly think Alabama was the center of the basketball universe though.
ReplyDeleteMoney talks. He could have had a better job it he held out another year or two.
ReplyDelete