They lost their daughter

After Jayda Grant died by suicide in 2022, her parents, head men’s basketball coach Anthony Grant and his wife, Chris, said they planned to “advocate for more comprehensive mental health care and to do all that we can to increase awareness around these issues.”

They have.

In May, coach Grant spoke publicly about Jayda for the first time in an interview for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Medical & Health Symposium. In October he and his wife sat down with Tom Archdeacon ’72 for an in-depth Dayton Daily News interview. And, later that month, advocacy came to the University of Dayton Arena.

Numerous area organizations participated in a mental health resource fair that preceded a panel discussion. Chris and Anthony Grant were joined on the Arena floor by mental health experts as well as suicide survivors.

“We needed resources,” coach Grant said, talking of the time before his daughter’s death. “We needed more information about where to go and what to do. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the help in time for our daughter.”

Speaking to young people in the audience (including the entire men’s basketball team), Chris Grant said, “Find support, reach out. No battle is won alone. We want you to live and have a full life. I’d give anything for our daughter to be here with us today.”

“Find support, reach out. No battle is won alone. We want you to live and have a full life. I’d give anything for our daughter to be here with us today.”

The next night the Flyer basketball team was joined by the Ohio State Buckeyes to play an exhibition game and continue to raise mental health awareness. A sold-out crowd stood and applauded as every member of each team was introduced.

More on Jayda Grant and mental health awareness can be found at Jay’s Light Fund, jayslight.org. “Light” is a reference to Matthew 5:14 — “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.”