The school announced the move on Sunday, less than an hour before the NCAA Selection Show.
"Earlier today, I informed Anthony Grant that he will not be retained as head men's basketball coach at the University of Alabama," Alabama athletic director Bill Battle said in a statement. "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.”
Grant took over the program in 2009 after he spent three seasons at VCU. He led the team to the NIT finals in 2011 and reached the NCAA Tournament in 2012, but lost in the first round. The Crimson Tide again reached the NIT in 2013 but have struggled in the last two years.
In 2014, the Tide won just 13 games, while this year Grant’s team improved to 18-14 but lost to Florida in its first game of the SEC tournament. The Tide could still be selected for the NIT when the field is unveiled at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday night.
Overall in his six seasons, Grant’s record was 117-85.
"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,” Battle said.
"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.”
Battle said in his statement that a national search for Grant’s replacement will begin immediately. Two obvious names that come to mind for the opening are Murray State’s Steve Prohm, an Alabama graduate, and Louisiana Tech head coach Michael White, who turned down the head job at Tennessee last year.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
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