A CHANGE IN DIRECTION // ANTHONY GRANT NOT RETAINED

A CHANGE IN DIRECTION // ANTHONY GRANT NOT RETAINED

Let me say that I respect Anthony Grant and everything that he stands for. He is a man of high character and integrity. He ran his program with class and required that his players be good students and model citizens. Why then after six seasons was Anthony Grant fired? Simple: He just didn’t win enough basketball games. Grant only won 58 percent of his games at UA and led Alabama to just one NCAA Tournament.
University of Alabama Director of Athletics Bill Battle issued this statement on Grant’s dismissal.
“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.”
The search is on for a new men’s basketball coach at the University of Alabama and indications are that Battle is going to make a strong offer to Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall. Marshall’s teams at Wichita State are a combined 122-20 during the last four seasons and have made four straight NCAA tournament appearances.

TRE THREAT
Spanish Fort LB discusses
Alabama offer
It’s a strong year for linebackers in Alabama. One of the best is Spanish Fort junior standout Tre Threat. During an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa, the 6-2, 235-pound Threat picked up an offer from Nick Saban.
“Alabama has always been a top school in my mind,” Threat says. “Just to go there and get the offer, that was very important to me.”
“I liked everything about the visit, especially the academic program,” Threat says. “The football program is phenomenal. The weight room is great. They pump so much money into the program.
“Everything about the visit was outstanding. I liked everything from the start of the visit until I left. There wasn’t a moment during the whole visit that I didn’t have a coach by my side. There was a coach with me talking to me every second.”
Threat says spending time with the coaches was a highlight of his visit.
“I mainly talked to Coach Lupoi the whole time,” Threat says. “I like Coach Lupoi a lot. He’s just a straightforward, real cool guy. He’s laid back. He’s fun to be around. A real down-to-earth type of guy. I just like him a lot.”
As a junior, Threat had 123 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a recovered fumble.
“I talked with Coach Smart and with Coach Saban when I was up there,” Threat says. “They like my style of play. Coach Saban said he liked the way I play the game. He was really straightforward. He said that he liked me as an inside backer. I like that. I think inside linebacker fits my stature.”
Threat now has offers Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Louisville, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
“It’s way too early to start naming a favorite for me,” Threat says. “I’m wide open right now. I’m just going to take my time.”