College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant has signed a two-year contract extension through the 2019-20 season, Director of Athletics Joe Hull announced on Thursday.
“I am pleased and proud to announce that we have extended Coach Grant’s contract through the 2019-20 season,” Hull said. “Earl, his coaches and our student-athletes have earned this extension. Earl has performed every aspect of his job well. He has built great relationships and is a terrific recruiter. Our players believe in Coach Grant and work hard for him on the court and in the classroom. They even embraced the adversity caused by difficult injuries. Next season, we expect to seriously compete for the CAA Championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. We are very proud of Coach Grant and our team.”
In his second season with the Cougars, Grant and his staff turned the men’s basketball program into one of the most improved in NCAA Division I and developed four all-conference players including Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year and All-CAA Third Team selection Jarrell Brantley – the first freshman to receive such honors since 2006.
“Earl Grant epitomizes character and leadership,” College of Charleston President Glenn F. McConnell (Class of ’69) said. “Coach Grant sets high academic and athletic standards for all of his players and emphasizes the values of teamwork and sportsmanship. It is evident from the way our student-athletes compose themselves on-and-off the court that they are learning from Coach Grant, respect him and share his never-quit mentality.”
In addition, CofC upset preseason Top 25-ranked LSU on its home court in November and advanced to the CAA Quarterfinals for the second-consecutive year under Grant. The Cougars also consistently ranked among the Top 10 defensive teams in the nation.
“I am extremely proud of the commitment by our players, assistant coaches and support staff to help move our basketball program forward,” Grant said. “We are optimistically looking toward the future and climbing to great heights. I am thrilled to be the head men’s basketball coach at the College of Charleston and take great pride in the many accomplishments of our players on-and-off the court. I want to thank President McConnell, the Board of Trustees and our athletic administration for their confidence in my leadership for the future of our program.”
Photo Courtesy C of C
