Grant gives vision of BC basketball
Brings a blue-collar mentality
Earl Grant has planned a defined structure and style for the Boston College men’s basketball program.
BC Athletic Director Patrick Kraft officially introduced Grant as the program’s 13th head coach during a remote press conference on Tuesday from Conte Forum.
Grant, 44, replaces Jim Christian, who went 78-132 over seven seasons before being let go by Kraft on Feb. 15.
Kraft and his staff examined qualities beyond track record and coaching portfolio and determined that Grant was the total package the Eagles’ program needs.
“When we set out to find our next coach for our basketball program, we had a couple of traits and characteristics that we wanted to hone in on,” said Kraft. “We wanted someone with a dynamic personality that would be able to engage the student body, the alums and really all of Boston College fans.
“We wanted to bring in somebody that had experience rebuilding programs and doing it the right way. We wanted somebody that was an elite recruiter and evaluator and someone who sees the unlimited potential that is in front of us.”
Grant was 127-89, with three seasons over 20 wins, at the College of Charleston in the CAA. In 2018, the Cougars went 26-8 and captured a CAA championship with a win over Northeastern, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999. Grant’s two best players, Grant Riller and Jerrall Brantley, were selected in the 2019 and 2020 NBA drafts, respectively.
Grant’s focus on grit over pizzazz makes him somewhat of a throwback. He’s a motivational instructor who emphasizes team basketball. Grant established a reputation for developing defensive players and gained an understanding of the ACC as an assistant for four seasons at Clemson. His prize recruit with the Tigers was K.J. McDaniels, who was first team All-ACC and the conference’s defensive player of the year before being drafted 32nd overall by the 76ers.
BC has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2009. Grant said he would demand his team play defense, rebound, and protect the basketball. That’s a sound philosophy because at this stage, BC has a tall order against conference powers like Duke, Louisville, Virginia or Florida State.
“The No. 1 thing I would say is that we are going to be a passionate group with an unbelievable competitive spirit and I think those things are the most important,” said Grant. “We want to defend, we want to defend and rebound and take care of the ball No. 1. If you can’t defend and rebound and take care of the ball, most time you don’t have a chance. We want to get after it so we can create opportunities to run and attack in the open court.
“So, first and foremost we’ve got to develop a mentality of guys that want to defend and rebound and share the responsibilities on offense. Unselfish and committed.”
Grant’s first order of business is to get acquainted with the returning players and incoming freshmen while looking at outside opportunities to team-build. His two best players at Charleston, guards Zep Jasper and Brevin Galloway, are in the NCAA’s transfer portal.