Anthony Grant, head coach of the University of Dayton men’s basketball team, is set to be honored with a Guardians of the Game award by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, as per a press release from the university. This accolade is bestowed upon individuals who exemplify the NABC’s core values of leadership, service, education, advocacy, and inclusion.
NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson emphasized the broader impact of coaching beyond on-court results, stating in the release, “Coaching is about much more than on-court results.” He commended this year’s awardees for their embodiment of the NABC’s core values, recognizing them with one of the industry’s most prestigious honors.
Grant is specifically recognized in the education category, joining four other coaches receiving honors in different areas: Scott Drew for leadership, Dan Priest for service, Norm Stewart for advocacy, and Lucas Ramirez for inclusion.
The press release highlights Grant’s commitment to education and mental health, noting that he, along with his wife Chris, established the Jay’s Light foundation dedicated to raising awareness about mental health.
The citation for Grant in the release outlines his coaching achievements, including his seven seasons as head coach at Dayton, where he led the team to multiple 20-win seasons and the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 regular season title. It also acknowledges his prior coaching success at Alabama and VCU and emphasizes his dedication to mental health advocacy, particularly following the tragic passing of his daughter Jayda in 2022.
Grant’s recent initiatives, such as the Spotlight Town Hall, which focuses on adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention, are also highlighted. The town hall, held in October, included a mental health resource fair and a charity exhibition game with Ohio State, raising funds for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio.
