Safiya Grant enters the fourth season of her current tenure and sixth season overall as an assistant coach with the Siena women's basketball program for the 2020-21 season.
Grant aided the Saints in advancing to the MAAC Quarterfinals as the No. 6 seed in the MAAC Tournament during the 2019-20 season. Siena embarked on a five-game conference winning streak from January 23 - February 8 that coincided with the program's first-ever victory over conference heavyweight Quinnipiac.
Under her assistance, the team finished the 2017-18 campaign with a trip to the MAAC Semifinals for the second time in the past four seasons, turning in 17 overall wins for the high win total since the 2014-15 season as well.
In her first season in 2012-13, Grant helped guide the Saints to an appearance in the MAAC Semifinals.
Grant began her first stint as an assistant coach for the Saints on May 21, 2012. She joined the program after a two-year appointment as the Director of Basketball Operations at Providence College.
"Coach Grant is a tremendous addition to our staff," said Jaques. "Her experience playing at Virginia and her professional experience coaching at Providence bring a lot to our program. I am really excited to have the chance to work with her and I'm sure she will hit the ground running and be a great recruiter and coach for us."
Grant worked under Phil Seymore at Providence from 2010-12 where the Friars won 26 games in her two seasons with the program. Grant oversaw the team's day-to-day operations, managed schedules and arranged team travel amongst other duties.
Grant began her coaching career as the head freshman basketball coach at Wauwatosa West High School in Milwaukee, Wis. from 2008-10. While in Milwaukee, Grant also worked full-time as a fraud and dispute investigator for the Metavante Corporation.
Grant played point guard under legendary head coach Debbie Ryan at the University of Virginia from 2000-04. She appeared in 93 games including 43 starts for the Cavaliers and played in three NCAA Tournaments. Named the team's Most Improved Player following her junior season, Grant totaled 282 points, 93 rebounds, 88 assists and 40 steals during her collegiate career.
A native of Bronx, N.Y., Grant earned her B.A. in Anthropology from Virginia in May 2004. Immediately following graduation, she spent two years as a media relations assistant at her alma mater. Grant was a three-time team MVP in high school at Central Park East. She averaged 28 points and eight assists as a senior and led her squad to a 51-15 overall record. Additionally, she was a Juilliard-schooled violinist.
