USF assistant takes job at Alabama

University of South Florida assistant head coach Dan Hipsher is leaving the men's basketball team to become an assistant at Alabama under Anthony Grant.

Hipsher, 54, came to USF two seasons ago as Coach Stan Heath's No. 1 assistant. However, Hipsher opted to rejoin Grant, who he recruited in high school for Dayton and also gave Grant his first coaching job at Stetson. Grant was hired March 27 at Alabama after three seasons at Virginia Commonwealth.

Hipsher is the second USF assistant to leave in the past week. Byron Samuels was fired by Heath last week.

Hipsher, who interviewed with Grant last week, did not return calls seeking comment. Heath said Tuesday night he was not aware of Hipsher's decision and said he would talk to Hipsher today.

A Bowling Green graduate, Hipsher was an assistant for two seasons at Arkansas under Heath before coming to USF with Heath in 2007. Hipsher started his career as an assistant for two seasons at Miami-Dade South and then nine seasons at Dayton before becoming head coach at Division III Wittenberg from 1989-93. He then was head coach at Stetson (1993-95) and Akron (1995-2004).

The departures of Hipsher and Samuels leaves Reggie Hanson as the only remaining assistant that began at USF with Heath two years ago.

On Friday, The Tampa Tribune reported Samuels was no longer on the staff. Heath's only comment about the matter was "next week I will have a clear picture about my staff and comment at that time."

The Bulls are 21-41 (7-29 Big East) the past two seasons. USF has signed three guards for next season - Jordan Dumars, Shaun Noriega and Mike Burwell - and also will have point guard Anthony Crater, a transfer from Ohio State, who will be eligible the first week of December.

On Monday, the Bulls received a commitment from 6-foot-11 junior college center Jarrid Famous, who was the nation's leading junior college rebounder. He is expected to sign with USF later this week or early next week.