DAYTON — Dayton’s Anthony Grant has been named the recipient of the Naismith Award for National Coach of the Year, the Atlanta Tip-Off Club announced on Twitter Thursday afternoon.
>>RELATED: Obi Toppin named finalist for Naismith National Player of the Year
Grant became the first coach to win the award while coaching his alma mater since 2010, when Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim won the award.
Congratulations @CoachGrantUD @DaytonMBB @A10MBB for taking home the 2020 @WernerLadderCo. Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year on @CBSSportsHQ!
— The Naismith Trophy (@NaismithTrophy) April 2, 2020
Grant was the first A-10 coach in 35 years to lead his team to an 18-0 conference record #Naismith2020 I #JoinTheFight 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bG6CAnCgNc
The award is the latest for the Flyers’ coach, who guided the team to 29-2 record, including 18-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, and a final ranking of third in the Associated Press Poll.
RELATED: Obi Toppin, Anthony Grant sweep top Associated Press national awards
Grant has already been named national coach of the year by the Associated Press, U.S. Basketball Writers Association, and several other outlets. He remains a finalist for the Wooden Coach of the Year award.
Our Leader 🏀
— Dayton Basketball (@DaytonMBB) April 2, 2020
Congratulations to Coach Grant on being named THE @NaismithTrophy Coach of the Year‼️#JoinTheFight // #GoFlyers pic.twitter.com/DskVZP2pR8
RELATED: Dayton’s Obi Toppin named AP First Team All-American; first in program history
Still to be awarded is the Naismith Award for national Player of the Year, which Dayton’s Obi Toppin was named a finalist. The winner will be announced Friday.
"I have to give credit to our players, our coaches, our administration, everybody around our program." @DaytonMBB's Anthony Grant after winning the @NaismithTrophy Award for Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/YLXGQxq4nC
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) April 2, 2020
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