The following message was sent by College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell to the campus community:

A new era in Cougar basketball is about to begin.

I am pleased to announce that Earl Grant has accepted the position as the new men’s basketball head coach at the College of Charleston. He comes to Charleston after spending five successful years as an assistant coach at Clemson University.

Earl stood out from our list of outstanding, highly qualified candidates. As we vetted the potential applicants, the pool boiled down to just a few excellent coaches, anyone of whom would do an outstanding job. But Earl has features that place him at the top of the list.

First and foremost Earl is a very impressive leader and a teacher. His positive attitude, strong work ethic and vivacious personality will have a lasting impact on our players, students, alumni and the entire college community. I am positive that his vast energy and desire for excellence will propel the College of Charleston basketball program to new heights.

He is well known for his many years as an exceptional recruiter, both in evaluating talent and developing relationships. His integrity will help us recruit elite student-athletes who will win championships and make us proud both on and off of the court. He can bring us instant success in the upcoming recruiting season and have an immediate positive impact that will pay dividends for years.

Best of all, this is a homecoming for Earl. Not only is he a North Charleston native who played basketball at Stall High School, but his wife, Jacci, is an alumnus of the College of Charleston. His basketball ties also link back to the Lowcountry. He spent six years working with Coach Gregg Marshall, who is one of the protégés of our legendary coach John Kresse. Earl also spent two years as an assistant at The Citadel.

I believe the College of Charleston has a boundless opportunity with Coach Earl Grant, and I am confident he will help launch a new beginning full of excellence, teamwork and success. Earl inherits a team that has bonded together during the past months and has shown character, fortitude and leadership. I am very proud of how this team has stood up to adversity.

Lastly, I would like to thank the search committee for their hard work and dedication during this period. Their sacrifice helped the College to find the right person for this job.

I invite the entire College of Charleston community to join me in welcoming Earl, Jacci and their three sons to the College of Charleston family.