Former Alabama head coach Anthony Grant named AP Coach of the Year

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One of college basketball’s best teams last season, Dayton head coach Anthony Grant is your National Coach of the Year.

The AP announced both awards Tuesday afternoon after the season ended prematurely.

“In the 31 games that we played, our guys did a heck of a job of playing consistent and taking advantage of the opportunities that were in front of us,” Grant said. “What we did accomplish in the shortened season is something I think that hopefully will be remembered.”

Dayton projected as the No. 1 seed in the East if it was able to take care of business in A-10 tournament action.

Dayton finished the season with a 29-2 record and perfect mark in A-10 play. The only two losses came in overtime, one to No. 4 Kansas and the other against Colorado.

“I thought our guys’ ability to stay focused on the things they could control really told the story of our year,” Grant said. “I think from the beginning of the year to the end, there was a consistency that our guys played with, which as a coach makes me really proud.”

Grant is in his third year at Dayton with past stops at Alabama and VCU. He has a 64-31 record with the Flyers, and was about to lead his team to the first NCAA tournament berth since Archie Miller's departure.

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