21412 FLORIDA ALABAMA
Florida Coach Billy Donovan and Alabama Coach Anthony Grant meet before the game at Coleman Coliseum Tuesday Feb. 14, 2012 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
(file photo)
Nearly a month after being fired at Alabama, Anthony Grant is returning to a former home.
Florida announced his hiring as an assistant coach Monday morning. He'll replace Matt McCall who was named head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga on Sunday.
Grant spent 12 years on Billy Donovan's staff, the first two at Marshall before moving to Florida from 1996-2006. Grant took the Virginia Commonwealth head job after the Gators won the 2006 national title. He moved to Alabama in 2009, but was fired March 15 after six seasons and a 117-85 record in Tuscaloosa.
"Pretty easy call, man. It's all about relationships," Grant told Florida's official website, GatorZone.com. "Pretty much everyone in that office is like family to me. So this is like coming home. The way it all worked out? God has a plan."
Grant's Alabama contract called for him to be paid $1 million a year through 2019 if he was fired without cause. Alabama will pay the difference between his Florida salary and the $1 million owed from the buyout. His Florida contract details have not been made public.
Days before Alabama dismissed Grant, Donovan said the school would be making a mistake if it fired him.
"Let's put it this way," Donovan said after beating Grant and Alabama, 69-61 in the SEC Tournament. Alabama better hope he comes back. That's what I would say."
Grant went 0-10 against the Gators in his time at Alabama with a 52-50 setback Jan. 27 preceding the SEC Tournament loss.
"Obviously, Anthony is one of my best friends," Donovan told GatorZone.com. "He's also a great coach."