Anthony Grant, the University of Dayton men’s basketball coach, will be receiving a Guardians of the Game award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches, according to a press release from the University of Dayton.

What You Need To Know

  • Anthony Grant, the University of Dayton men’s basketball coach, will be receiving a Guardians of the Game award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches

  • He is one of five coaches this year to receive the honor

  • The awards are given to those “who embody the NABC’s core values of leadership, service, education, advocacy and inclusion"

  • Grant is being awarded for the education category

He is one of five coaches this year to receive the honor. The awards are given to those “who embody the NABC’s core values of leadership, service, education, advocacy and inclusion.”

“Coaching is about much more than on-court results,” NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson said in the release. “The NABC’s Guardians of the Game platform showcases coaches’ unique ability to make a positive impact on our society. These Guardians of the Game awards are among our industry’s most prestigious honors, and I commend each of this year’s recipients for how they live out the NABC’s core values.”

Grant is being awarded for the education category, according to the release. Scott Drew is being recognized for leadership, Dan Priest for service, Norm Stewart advocacy and Lucas Ramirez for inclusion.

The release notes that Grant and his wife, Chris, worked to establish a foundation dedicated to shining a light on mental health, called Jay’s Light.

The release also includes the NABC’s citation for Grant:

“This season marks Anthony Grant’s seventh as the head coach at Dayton, where he has led his alma mater to five 20-win seasons and the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 regular season title. Prior to his tenure at Dayton, Grant reached three NCAA Tournaments and four NITs during head coaching stints at Alabama and VCU. After the tragic passing of his daughter Jayda in 2022, Grant and his family have become fierce advocates for mental health education. This past October, Grant developed the Spotlight Town Hall in honor of his late daughter to champion adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention. The event featured a mental health resource fair and was held adjacent to a charity exhibition game (with Ohio State) that raised funds for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio.”