Florida requests, receives OK to speak with Grant

By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Friday June 1st, 2007

Florida isn't waiting a second to begin its search for basketball coach Billy Donovan's replacement. Athletics director Jeremy Foley requested and received permission to interview Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant on Friday, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

Grant is considered one of the bright, young coaches in college basketball.


A source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Andy Katz that Foley will be meeting with Grant on Saturday in Richmond, Va.



Donovan was named coach of the NBA's Orlando Magic on Friday.

Grant, who led the Rams to a 28-7 record and Colonial Athletic Association title in his first season, was an assistant at Florida under Donovan for 10 seasons. Virginia Commonwealth also upset Duke 79-77 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament this past season.

Grant, 41, is a native of Miami and is credited with recruiting many of the players who led the Gators to back-to-back national championships the last two seasons. Grant played at Dayton and also coached under Donovan at Marshall.

Grant earned a little more than $300,000 last season, including incentives, and the school restructured his contract to increase his base salary to around $400,000 annually.

Mark Schlabach covers college football and basketball for ESPN.com.