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VCU's Grant accepts Alabama job

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Mar 28, 2009 1:40 AM ET
     
 
Just hours after his former boss, Billy Donovan, decided to remain at Florida, VCU coach Anthony Grant has accepted the Alabama job.
Grant and the Crimson Tide reached an "agreement in principle" on Friday and the coach will be formally introduced Sunday evening, athletic director Mal Moore said. "As our search progressed over the last few weeks it became readily apparent that Coach Grant is an excellent fit to lead our program," Moore said in a statement. "His record at Virginia Commonwealth is outstanding and his coaching background is filled with championship success at the collegiate level." Grant, who took Virginia Commonwealth to two NCAA tournament appearances in three seasons, replaces Mark Gottfried, who was fired during the season. VCU was 24-10 this past season and lost to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament. According to sources, Alabama offered Grant a deal that was worth about $2 million per season. He becomes the most prominent black coach hired at Alabama and the first in the two major sports, football and men's basketball. "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, who played at Dayton. "There's a commitment throughout the athletic department to make sure that we have the resources necessary to compete for championships." Grant, 42, met with Alabama officials in Richmond last weekend and then toured the campus Wednesday. Grant was in a holding pattern for a day or so because there was speculation that Donovan would leave Florida and go to Kentucky — thus leaving the door open for Grant to replace Donovan in Gainesville. However, Donovan pulled his name from consideration and Grant opted to take the job in Tuscaloosa. The job with the Crimson Tide gives Grant a chance to coach on the other side of the SEC and not have to battle in the same division with Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Associated Press contributed to this report
Tagged: Richmond, UCLA, Alabama, Washington State, Kentucky, Florida

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