Instilling Values/Toughness in a Program

The Coach

Earl Grant

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Head Coach Earl Grant and his staff have turned the College of Charleston men’s basketball program into a consistent championship contender in the Colonial Athletic Association producing 11 all-conference honorees over the past six seasons.
 
A former Lowcountry prep star out of R.B. Stall High School in nearby North Charleston, Grant has guided the Cougars to three 20-win campaigns and a 59-16 home-court winning record (.787) at TD Arena the last five years. He earned his 100th career coaching victory in a 70-61 win against rival UNCW on March 2, 2019, at TD Arena.

For the first time in program history, men's basketball was recognized by the NCAA for the 2018-19 academic year. Under the guidance of Grant, the programs' four-year rolling APR was in the Top 10% of all men's basketball programs in the country. The Cougars were one of only 51 men's basketball programs honored nationally. In all, 24 players have gone on to earn their degree at The College.

In 2018-19, CofC posted a 24-9 overall record with non-conference victories over Rhode Island, VCU, and Memphis. Two players – Grant Riller and Jarrell Brantley – were named to the All-CAA First Team. Known for their gritty defense, the Cougars led the CAA in scoring defense for the fourth-straight year holding opponents to 68.6 points per game. CofC also ranked No. 17 in the nation in turnovers per game (10.5 avg.) and No. 16 in free-throw percentage (76.4%).

Known as a player's coach, Grant, and his staff helped develop Brantley into a 2019 NBA Draft Pick and Riller into a 2020 NBA Draft Pick - the third and fourth-ever College of Charleston players to be drafted. Brantley is currently a two-way player with the Utah Jazz and was named to the 2020 NBA G League First Team and All-Rookie Team as a member of the Salt Lake City Stars. He was second in voting for NBA G League Rookie of the Year honors. Riller was selected in the second round by the Charlotte Hornets giving the Cougars back-to-back NBA Draft picks for the first time in school history. College of Charleston was one of only 21 NCAA Division I schools to have players drafted in both the 2019 and 2020 NBA Drafts.

CAREER HONORS

2018 Colonial Athletic Association Regular-Season and Tournament Champions
Only the second head coach in program history to lead College of Charleston to the NCAA Tournament
2017 NABC All-District Coach of the Year
2017 Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year