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Here's the memo that went to staff- The University of Akron and Director of Athletics Charles Guthrie have mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately, to allow Guthrie to pursue another opportunity. “Today is bittersweet but, after extensive soul-searching and a lot of prayer, we have decided that it is in the best interest of both my UA family and my own family to part now,” Guthrie said. “We have treasured our time with Zips Nation and eagerly look forward to our next chapter. It has been a true honor to serve alongside an extraordinary team of coaches, athletic staff and administrators who prioritize the student-athlete experience, operate with unwavering integrity and have a tireless work ethic. Thank you to our dedicated alumni, donors and fans. Go Zips!” Guthrie has led UA Athletics since July 2021, managing the department’s 18 NCAA Division I programs with a steadfast commitment to the safety and continued positive experience of the University’s student-athletes. To ensure the health and well-being of all 500 Zips student-athletes, Guthrie spearheaded a 10-year partnership with Akron Children’s Hospital, now Akron Athletics’ sole health care provider. During Guthrie’s tenure as AD, Akron Athletics won 11 MAC championships, including Men’s Basketball’s advancement to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2024. In 2022, Guthrie helped secure affiliate membership for Akron Men’s Soccer in the BIG EAST Conference. This season, the team captured the program's first-ever BIG EAST regular season title. Additionally, the University has appreciated Guthrie’s fundraising efforts that secured the two largest individual cash gifts in department history. He initiated the creation of the department’s inaugural major giving society - the Summit Circle. He also prioritized transformational enhancements to Akron’s athletics facilities with the opening of the Wentz Financial Group Basketball Player Development Center, and other improvements including new artificial turf and a new state-of-the-art video board at InfoCision Stadium and an overhaul of the Lee R. Jackson Track and Field Complex. President R.J. Nemer states, “On behalf of The University of Akron, I extend thanks to Charles for his three-year tenure and for the dedication he showed for the advancement of our UA student-athletes and Akron Athletics.” The Office of the President, led by Chief Strategy Officer Matt Juravich, is collaborating with colleagues in Akron Athletics to ensure a smooth transitionary period.

Yes, a number of eggs were laid early; but does that mean nothing can be done about the attendances from students? This team also beat Xavier, Creighton, VCU, Butler, Wright State and Villanova at home scoring 3+ goals in 5 games at Cub Cadet. This team has been rolling so the positives have far out weighed the negatives at home. Ultimately the marketing department has been useless for a number of years now, but especially this past year. When I was a student you would see a promotion stand in the student union and signs on the grass saying game day. Are they still happening? Anyway, there’s a game tomorrow and the zips need to win!

Hopefully the new AD cares more about soccer.

No longer AD!

The Zips head to St. Mary's Tuesday night to face the 2-0 Gaels. The Gaels thus far have beaten Towson and Chattanooga. The following are excerpts from the WCC preview: The Gaels, picked second in the league by the coaches, were 15-1 in WCC play and won the Conference tournament for the fourth time since 2010 last season — the only WCC team to interrupt Gonzaga’s dominance. The Gaels lost four key players, including two-time All-WCC guard Aidan Mahaney. But nine players return, led by senior PG Augustas Marciulionis (12.4 points, 5.3 assists), who was voted the WCC’s Player of the Year last season. He was joined on the All-WCC first team by senior center Mitchell Saxen (11.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks). Also back is senior forward Lake Barrett (5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds). Sophomore guard Jordan Ross figures to see a bigger role. Top newcomers: Arizona transfer forward Paulius Muraskas (2.7 points), a 6-foot-8, 235-pound sophomore from Lithuania, is expected to play a significant role. Sophomore forward Ashton Hardaway (2.3 points), the son of former NBA star Penny Hardaway, is a transfer from Memphis. Oakland-born freshman guard Mikey Lewis, a four-star prospect from Prolific Prep, has shown promise in early workouts.

In the first Big East tournament game today, Georgetown defeated Creighton 1-0 from the writeup and the stats, it looks like it was a very competitive game Georgetown moves to the Big East semis and awaits the winner of the Akron-DePaul game at 4:55 pm on Saturday, Georgetown is up to #8 in RPI Akron is currently #29 in RPI https://guhoyas.com/news/2024/11/9/mens-soccer-hoyas-down-creighton-to-advance-to-big-east-semifinal.aspx

New AD brings back that gorgeous script Akron logo they had for like a year and I'd be happy for life

He's a retired 66 year old with zero hours logged as an AD. I think it's a little late for him to pick up a new trade.

I enjoyed watching this game. The battling bishops were a very well coached team and shot the ball well from three. They are 2 divisions below the Zips and none of these guys are as athletic as the Zips but they played very hard and boxed out well keeping the rebounding edge very close. KJ really stood out on defense and had at least 4 steals and missed a dunk and the ball went up into the rafters. Okonkwo is a great rebounder but really surprised at his limited offense. This guy played at West Virginia and North Carolina and reminds me of Freeman in his 2nd year offensively. Hardman has a quick shot and seems to be a 3 point specialist. He shot 5 of 10 from 3 point land. TJ had a tough shooting night and missed his first 4 or 5 shots and he hit 2 threes in succession in the 2nd half. I think this team has potential. We will not be getting a great deal of inside points from our center like last year so hitting the outside shot will probably be key.

Obvious takeaway ... even vs. lesser opponent ... this team has mad depth.

So tomorrow, I expect DePaul to bunker in a 5-4-1, clog up the attacking half, and try to catch the Zips on a counter. Zips need to move the ball and not get frustrated. A win is a win

I don’t know anything about what Akron needs at the AD position, but listening to Bud Wentz on podcasts I think hiring him to run the search would be an excellent idea.

It will take a month, minimum, to hire a new AD. The season will be over by then. The new one isn't going to fire Joe on day one. The only way Joe leaves will be on his own in January after coaches turn over.

We don’t need stability for the sake of stability. Guthrie isn’t gone because he was anything but bad AD. It heartens me that UA recognized the mistake and cut bait.

Some of you folks are too formal. Too old school. Keith would be a great hire.

Enrique played Friday evening in Charlotte for the Pacers. He traveled back to Indianapolis with the team. He is in Indianapolis this morning. He will not play today in CLE.

Given the timing, our athletics budget, the state of our football program, and the size of our university, I'm not sure there will be many candidates with experience vying for the position. And if they are, they'll likely be similar to Guthrie in that they'll be aiming to be somewhere else in a few years. I'd rather go with someone passionate for UA who isn't looking to use us to advance their own career elsewhere, but that's just me.

Joe should get one more season for financial reasons alone. Akron has a sane OOC next season with a chance to gain momentum for a good season. A new coach would be less able to exploit this opportunity and Akron would suffer. Knowing this and with my experience as a Zips fan, I predict Akron will fire Joe after this season, start the endless building process over and miss out on exploiting a favorable schedule next year.

I have concern a new AD would try and fire Moorhead and we’ll be starting over yet again, continuing the death spiral of suck. Just want to watch some winning Zips football in my life.

Do you know how short the list is of successful mid-major coaches who also stay in one place for 13 years is? He'd be a great fit. 99% of AD hires would be another Charles - someone just looking to use us as a stepping stone to somewhere else. KD wouldn't be that.

I'm fine with this. Have never been impressed by him. Offer the job to KD - he's a great fundraiser and actually loves the city/university.

Only 10 dressed. Josiah and Connor in street clothes, Zack and Mahaffey in knee braces, Wiilson in a boot. Shammah started for Josiah. That brought Marvin Musiime-Kamali in as the 10th guy in the rotation. Sharron and Gray were the offensive leaders, Seth Wilson had a bunch of assists. They faced zone all 40 minutes.

Why has AD quit? Moving on to greener pastures? This I know: The new/acting AD can cut costs by eliminating the TSA at the gate.

Hope the takes his sh!tty Arby’s A with him. Good riddance.

Zips basketball account is tweeting the game is on ESPN+. Meanwhile, nothing is on there and the Akron app says no tv stream. Somehow Kent St vs Miami OH - Hamilton is though.

I understand it was a personal fit issue, not grades. Furman is a university named after a Baptist pastor with a school motto of "Christo et Doctrinae" which translates to "For Christ and Learning." That had to be quite a transition from the Portage County School of Animal Husbandry.

The game should be played by FIFA rules.

The student turnout this year has been just pathetic. So frustrating because 21/22 and parts of 23 were good. I don't have high hopes for the game tomorrow student wise.

Is this true??

On the postgame Groce indicated that Harris was day by day and not sure if he would play on Tuesday so it must be an injury or illness.

It is not. There in lies the problem.

If so, it should feel familiar. They're 1-8 in football.

You do realize that the political considerations you criticize are responsible for making UA a state university in the 1960s. There's a legitimate case to be made that 2 state universities within 12 miles of one another was simply bad business. As for current round of budget cuts, I have heard there's growing sentiment among trustees and the administration that it's time to de-emphasize football. Simply no ROI in the existing business case.

Yes. At the same time Ohio was undoing any regulation and structure to its system, California was instituting the exact opposite called "The Master Plan." Guess who ended up with the better and more affordable system. The problem is how do you put that toothpaste back into the tube. Get the colleges to just finally and formally accept that Ohio State is Ohio State and that they are not. And don't get me started on the tantrum that the Toledo Blade would throw.

Then my vote is Marcus Jennings, current CFO of the Athletic Department. He seems to have been the "adult in the room" these past few years.

10-3-4 and close to the top of power ratings nationally in the football we care about in this forum. Charles is not what anyone would call a Great Communicator. He never ingratiated himself to the core Zips fans or alumni, but these are tough times both financially and politically at the university and he got caught up in more than he probably bargained for. I wish Charles all the best in his and his family's future.

Was told by another AD that he didn't like to be pressed on budget and compliance details. Guessing the department has been source of multiple unwanted financial surprises.

The one thing I have learned about Groce's teams is that defense, physical play and toughness gets you on the floor. Sharron looks great offensively but he looks like a frosh on a team that is mainly junior and seniors. The physical play of division one basketball is something that may keep him from being a starter this early in his career.

Which is political decisions that should be solved through competent state legislation. Essentially the State institutions were thrown bootstraps and a Laissez-faire, Ayn Rand free market competition, instead of coherent planning strategy by competent management who gives a damn about it.

He has lasted longer in the NBA than Bronny. Hang the banner.

I don't want someone who is isn't interested in advancing their career. Accomplishments advance careers. Akron needs meaningful accomplishments.

I think he picked up a lot of valuable knowledge about mostly basketball. Akron is participating in very high level college athletics, not the Suburban League. Hiring him as AD would be a monumental mistake probably equal to hiring Dennison as AD in the late 80s.

That was my thought as well. Almost every new AD wants to make their mark on football - or whatever the major program is at the particular school. I went through all the coaching hires for G5 turnarounds from 2021, 2022, and 2023. If the new AD thinks he/she is going to come in and immediately make a splash hire, they are in for a rude awakening with the resources we have. These are (more or less) in order of coaching staff pay: Joe Moorhead - Akron Base Pay = $620k Total Asst. Pay = $920k Previous Coach = 2-10 2022 = 2-10 2023 = 2-10 Current = 2-7 Terry Bowden - Louisiana-Monroe Base Pay = $435k Total Asst. Pay = $1 mil Previous Coach = 0-10 2021 = 4-8 2022 = 4-8 2023 = 2-10 Current = Bowden was fired. Kenni Burns - Kent Base Pay = $527k Total Asst. Pay = $1.1 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 1-11 Current = 0-9 Lance Taylor - Western Michigan Base Pay = $850k Total Asst. Pay = $1.1 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 5-4 Jerry Kill - New Mexico State Base Pay = $550k Total Asst. Pay = $1.45 mil Previous Coach = 2-10 2022 = 7-6 2023 = 10-5 Current = Kill stepped down. Mike MacIntyre - FIU Base Pay = $750k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 4-8 2023 = 4-8 Current = 3-6 Clay Helton - Georgia Southern Base Pay = $805k Total Asst. Pay = $1.45 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 6-7 Current = 6-3 Don Brown - UMASS Base Pay = $882k Total Asst. Pay = $1.35 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 1-11 2023 = 3-9 Current = 2-7 Blake Anderson - Utah State Base Pay = $766k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 1-5 2021 = 11-3 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 6-7 Current = 2-6 Kane Wommack - South Alabama Base Pay = $810k Total Asst. Pay = $1.5 mil Previous Coach = 4-7 2021 = 5-7 2022 = 10-3 2023 = 7-6 Current = Wommack is now the DC at Alabama Butch Jones - Arkansas State Base Pay = $825k Total Asst. Pay = $1.5 mil Previous Coach = 4-7 2021 = 2-10 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 6-7 Current = 5-3 Will Hall - Southern Miss Base Pay = $824k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 3-7 2021 = 3-9 2022 = 7-6 2023 = 3-9 Current = 1-7 Jon Sumrall - Troy Base Pay = $825k Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2022 = 12-2 2023 = 11-3 Current = Sumrall is now the HC at Tulane Sonny Cumbie - Louisiana Tech Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.3 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 3-5 GJ Kinne - Texas State Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 4-8 2023 = 8-5 Current = 4-4 Tom Herman - FAU Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 2-7 Biff Poggi - Charlotte Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 3-6 Jim Mora - UCONN Base Pay = $1.7 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.9 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 3-9 Current = 6-3 Jay Norvell - Colorado State Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.1 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 5-7 Current = 6-3 Stan Drayton - Temple Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 2-6 Brian Newberry - Navy Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 4-8 2023 = 5-7 Current = 6-2 Kevin Wilson - Tulsa Base Pay = $1.9 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 3-6 Barry Odom - UNLV Base Pay = $1.75 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.3 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 9-5 Current = 6-2 Alex Golesh - South Florida Base Pay = $2.5 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.4 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2023 = 7-6 Current = 4-4

Good. I had hopes for him, but the lazy decision to schedule OSU on the road after Kentucky paid us $1.0 million to get out of a game was the turning point for me. It was the least creative thing he could have done. Akron needs someone who can get money into the revenue stream some way other than whoring out the football program and make that program better.

KD had his chance but he left. I don’t want him running the athletic department. He has no clue running the other sports. Just ridiculous. I guess we will be getting a new logo in about 2 years.

TSA at the gate was not Guthries idea.

Welcome new AD, Keith Dambrot?

this one ???? 😎 https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2024/11/08/akron-zips-mens-soccer-emil-jaaskelainen-big-east-tournament-jared-embick-long-island-england-usa/76108092007/