College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant has signed a new five-year contract that runs through the 2021-22 season, Director of Athletics Matt Roberts announced on Monday.
“Our men’s basketball program’s success on-and-off the court is the direct result of Earl Grant’s leadership and commitment to the College of Charleston,” Roberts said. “He and his staff have done a tremendous job in just three short years of turning our program into a competitive one in the CAA. We feel he is on the verge of taking us to the next level and national stage.”
This past season, Grant led the Cougars to a 25-10 overall record and 14-4 mark in Colonial Athletic Association play. It marked the program’s first 20-win campaign since 2013. The Cougars, seeded a program-best No. 2, advanced to the championship game of the CAA Tournament for the first time since CofC joined the Colonial in 2013. They were also selected and made their fifth all-time appearance in the Postseason NIT. It was their first postseason berth (NCAA or NIT) since 2011.
“Earl Grant is an exceptional coach who had a terrific season, culminating in a NIT Tournament berth and recognition as CAA Coach of the Year,” College of Charleston President Glenn F. McConnell said. “Coach Grant has great energy and truly cares about the development of his players – on-and-off the court. Coach Grant is building The College’s basketball program into a conference powerhouse – one that’s built to last. He continues to be the right person to lead our Cougars into our next chapter of greatness, and I’m thrilled he will be at The College for at least another five years.”
The 2017 CAA Coach of the Year and NABC UPS Division I All-District 10 Coach of the Year became only the third head coach in the program’s NCAA Division I Era to be named Conference Coach of the Year next to legends John Kresse and Bobby Cremins. The Cougars finished one game out of first place in the regular season, posted an impressive 10-4 road record and went up against strong non-conference opponents with only four of their nine losses of the season to UCF (NIT), Wake Forest (NCAA), defending national champion Villanova (NCAA) and LSU.
In addition, CofC was ranked for 13-consecutive weeks in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll and ranked as high as No. 11 in the nation. For the second-straight year, the Cougars were one of the most improved teams in NCAA Division I and ranked among the top defensive teams in the country. Redshirt junior guard Joe Chealey was named to the All-CAA First Team and sophomore forward Jarrell Brantley to the All-CAA Second Team. Both were honored on the CAA All-Tournament Team and NABC Division I All-District 10 First Team.
“It is a testament of the efforts put forth by our players, assistant coaches and support staff,” Grant said. “We are very thankful for President Glenn McConnell, Director of Athletics Matt Roberts, the Board of Trustees and their willingness to show a strong commitment to our program. Our goal from the beginning was to put forth an effort that would move Charleston Basketball forward.”
The Cougars return all five starters next season and will be a preseason favorite in the CAA. ESPN projected CofC to be a No. 14 seed in next year’s NCAA Tournament in its early bracketology predictions.
http://www.cofcsports.com/news/2017/4/24/mens-basketball-grant-signs-new-five-year-contract.aspx
