Tue, Sep 6, 2022

Former D-I Head Coach Will Serve As The Flyers’ Program Analyst & Senior Special Assistant

DAYTON – University of Dayton men’s basketball coach Anthony Grant has announced the addition of former Division I head coach John Brannen to the UD staff. 

Brannen, who has 21 years of college coaching experience, will fill the new role of Program Analyst and Senior Special Assistant.  In this position, he will oversee the Flyer program’s efforts in analytics, scouting, self-scouting and video analysis.

“John brings an extensive amount of experience and success as a former head coach and leader into this new role,” Grant said.  “Having coached John during his collegiate playing days, and working with him for nine years on previous coaching staffs, I’m excited about the opportunity to partner with him again. I believe his passion, knowledge, and skill set will be great assets to our players, staff, and program. We’re excited to welcome John and his family to the Flyer Family.”

Brannen, 48, played his college basketball at Morehead State before finishing at Marshall in 1997.  Grant was on Billy Donavan’s staff at Marshall when Brannen transferred there.  As a senior, Brannen led the Southern Conference in scoring and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. 

After playing professionally for two seasons in Europe, he began his coaching career in 1999 at the College of Charleston.  He then spent three seasons at Eastern Kentucky, and another three at St. Bonaventure (where he was an assistant on Anthony Solomon’s staff).

Brannen then reunited with Anthony Grant, coaching on Grant’s staff at VCU from 2006 to 2009, and then at Alabama from 2009 to 2015.  Brannen was the Crimson Tide’s Associate Head Coach during his last two seasons in Tuscaloosa.

After Alabama, Brannen spent the next six seasons as a head coach – four at Northern Kentucky and two at Cincinnati.  In his six seasons as a head coach, his teams won three regular season conference championships and two league tournament titles.

Dayton returns all five starters from a team that finished 24-11 in 2021-22, and tied for second in the A-10 with a 14-4 record. Included in those 24 wins was a win over eventual national champion Kansas.

COURTESY DAYTON MEDIA RELATIONS