Grasso named finalist for Hugh Durham Award

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University men's basketball head coach Jared Grasso has been named a finalist for the 2021 Hugh Durham Award, which is presented to the top Division I mid-major coach.

Grasso earns a spot on the list after guiding the Black and Gold to its best season in Division I history. The Bulldogs posted a 15-6 record and advanced to the Northeast Conference Championship for the first time in program history.

In just his third season at the helm, Grasso oversaw a team that defeated UMass on the road, its second victory over an A-10 team in as many years, and were ranked in the top five in scoring for the entirety of the season. The Bulldogs featured five double-digit scorers for the first time in DI program history and had three players finish with 6.0+ rebounds per game for the first time in DI program history.

The Black and Gold won six-straight games at one point and won each of their first 10 games at home. Bryant was in first place in the league standings heading into the final week of the season. Playing in the postseason for the third time in three years under Grasso, Bryant raced past Sacred Heart in the NEC Semifinals before hosting the NEC Championship at the Chace Athletic Center.

Bryant is 40-43 under Grasso, including 30-23 over the last two seasons.

Coaches of teams in the following conferences are eligible for the award: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast.

The recipient of the 2021 award will be announced on April 1.