OnThursday, Southern University Chancellor Edward Jackson confirmed thetermination of basketball head coach Michael Grant. However, the conference did not reveal answers to questionspertaining to personal matters or the appeal process. Because of legal issues Jackson was restricted on thetype of questions he could answer.
“Yesterday(Wednesday) I did issue a letter recommending the termination of our headbasketball coach,” Jackson said. ”That recommendation will of course move through our regularprocess. There will probably be anappeal — Coach Grant does have that right and we of course will honorthat.”
Grant, inhis second year at Southern, received the termination letter Wednesdayafternoon. His employment willofficially end May 15. Grant hadone year left on a three-year contract.
Jacksonwants the matter to be closed as soon as possible. The appeal process will be on May 9 and is open to thepublic. According to Jackson theSU athletic committee, comprised of about nine to ten people, will handle theappeal process.
Jacksonsaid that as early as Monday the University will post a job statement listingthe qualifications and descriptions that they are seeking in a new coach. Some applicants have called the schoolbut Jackson said he was not familiar with the names.
Jacksonsaid he met with the former basketball players but did not release details on whenthe meeting took place and what was said.
Calls onThursday evening after the press conference made to Grant were not immediatelyreturned.
The basesalary for Grant was $76,000, with a $12,000 housing allowance and use of acourtesy car.
Grant(26-31 at Southern) was one of three finalists for a job at Youngstown State.
The jobwas awarded to Jerry Slocum, Gannon head coach on Tuesday. Gary Edwards,head coach Indiana University of Pennsylvania was the third prospect.
Beforefinding about his status at Youngstown State Grant made such remarks to a Ohionewspaper (Tribune Chronicle, reported by John Vargo): “If I can sign a contract today, Iwould. And I would have two assistants that would sign quickly too.
“Ido have people in mind that are willing to come in and sign right away. Once you keep adding players along with that, not low major players, but somegood mid-major, solid players that can be competitive in this league, we can becompetitive. Winning is contagious. Once you start winning, it continuesand continues and continues. We want to make sure we bring good players inthere.”
Atthe beginning of the 2004-05 season the Jaguars were picked to finish second inthe SWAC preseason rankings. The team finished sixth.
Grant wastrying to make a turnaround for the Jaguars 14-15 this season and 12-16 lastyear. Both were losing seasons under Grant’s leadership.
