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One of the few remaining coaching vacancies in college basketball was filled Tuesday, as Coppin State announced it was hiring Michael Grant.
"I am excited to be here and looking forward to playing an exciting brand of basketball," Grant said. "The way we play. There will be nobody in this conference that will be able to play the way I play. We’re going to get up and down the floor. We’re going to run and press. Every team that I’ve coached over the last 15 years, we’ve led the conference in scoring. Our goals are to make sure we’re scoring over 80 points per game and leading the conference in rebounding and steals."
Grant is the sixth coach in CSU history, dating back to the program's start in 1964. He coached at Stillman College, a D-II institution, for the past six years, going 100-73 in the process. He previously coached in D-I at Southern from 2003-05, going 26-31 in two seasons. Grant was fired at Southern amid reports that he interviewed for the Youngstown State job.
CSU president Mortimer Neufville noted Grant's ability to graduate players as a vital aspect to the hire.
Grant played at Malone University, a D-II program in Canton, Ohio. The Eagles went 12-20 in the MEAC last season and haven't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2008.
"We have to show Baltimore some love," Grant said of his new home. "We have to be able to make sure we take care of home. Once we get one recruit from here, the rest will follow. I am looking forward to having an opportunity to go out in the community and meeting all of the high school coaches and building Coppin State starting at home first."
