Search For The Next Head Coach

[mes102]

4 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

Yes.  I can just enjoy the game although it's been difficult watching the same style of stuck in the mud MAC Zips play for these last few years.  It takes me longer than 30 seconds to determine if it's zone or man to man and by then the possession is over.

That's okay, because there's a lot to the general basketball fan that's hard to figure out zone and man because of the principles of man defense where a solid man-man team with help-side defense could look like a zone, and then you have matchup zones that look a lot like man-man defense because of their matchup tendencies.

What gets fun at the high school level is fooling opposing coaches, which happens a lot more than you may think. We've had coaches thinking we're running man when we're actually running a zone, and vice versa. Or they think we're running a specific zone, and we're running an entirely different zone altogether. As long as you get everyone in the program to buy in, it's a treat to watch in the eyes of the general basketball fan and the basketball coaching fans.

[clarkwgriswold]

Here's an old blurb about the Groce- Steve French animosity from the OU forum website-

 

"Akron play-by-play shill Steve French has a TV program on local access cable every Monday night.  Last night he made a point of badmouthing the Bobcats' Top 25 ranking and was called on it by an irate Ohio fan.  French then went into this weird story about how everyone in the league knows that John Groce had an obsession with Keith Dambrot and that Groce was badmouthing Dambrot to anyone who would listen, including high school coaches and parents of potential recruits.  Strangely, when he was asked how he knew this to be the case he said that the Ohio radio broadcaster told him - in fact, said the broadcaster informed him on more than one occasion that Groce was belittling Dambrot to players and staff."

[mes102]

2 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Here's an old blurb about the Groce- Steve French animosity from the OU forum website-

 

"Akron play-by-play shill Steve French has a TV program on local access cable every Monday night.  Last night he made a point of badmouthing the Bobcats' Top 25 ranking and was called on it by an irate Ohio fan.  French then went into this weird story about how everyone in the league knows that John Groce had an obsession with Keith Dambrot and that Groce was badmouthing Dambrot to anyone who would listen, including high school coaches and parents of potential recruits.  Strangely, when he was asked how he knew this to be the case he said that the Ohio radio broadcaster told him - in fact, said the broadcaster informed him on more than one occasion that Groce was belittling Dambrot to players and staff."

well then... Welcome to Akron,  Coach Groce!!!!!!!!!!

[NWAkron]

8 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

(one of my pet peeves along with how they handled ball screens!).

Again...Enough with these complicated terms like "ball screens".  Coming around with those above that Groce is sort of old news.  Jamarian Christian or the NBA (thank you search firm) guy would be a true fresh start.

Edited April 3, 2017 by NWAkron

[ZachTheZip]

37 minutes ago, akzipper said:

I hated him at OU, but he won and made it further in the tournament than Dambrot ever has.

 

DJ Cooper carried that team by transforming into Steph Curry before anybody knew who Steph Curry was, pulling off circus shot after circus shot. Groce hasn't won anything without Cooper. He basically stumbled onto a "diamond in the rough".

[skip-zip]

57 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Groce was belittling Dambrot 

 

He'd fit right in with what we've been seeing on Zips Nation lately.  Who knows.  He might already be here.  Watch out for any mysterious new posters.   

Edited April 3, 2017 by skip-zip

[zippy5]

14 minutes ago, ZachTheZip said:

 

DJ Cooper carried that team by transforming into Steph Curry before anybody knew who Steph Curry was, pulling off circus shot after circus shot. Groce hasn't won anything without Cooper. He basically stumbled onto a "diamond in the rough".

He was ESPN's 30th best player that year. Groce also recruited N'Dour and Kellogg

[skip-zip]

6 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

He was ESPN's 30th best player that year. Groce also recruited N'Dour and Kellogg

 

And don't forget about Bassett.  He was the MVP in the tourney in 2010, and a huge part of their first run when Cooper was still just a freshman.  

[NWAkron]

7 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

And don't forget about Bassett.  He was the MVP in the tourney in 2010, and a huge part of their first run when Cooper was still just a freshman.  

And Bassett kicked off team the next season.   I remember Dambrot tried to emulate Groces method of trying to win 4 minute intervals.  Remember when they had those poster boards.

[jupitertoo]

Actually, Anthony Stewart and Jim Christian brought in N'Dour.  And depending on whom you believe, Stewart almost got OU in trouble with the NCAA as a result.

 

My read on the coaching search is that the longer it takes, the more likely the target is a high-profile/expensive coach with complex contract requirements.  And as the price goes up, the school will need to get "creative" in how it finds funding - which takes time.  Important to show fiscal responsibility in light of budget concerns.

 

As an Ohio fan, I was obviously thrilled with the Sweet 16 run but it had little to do with John Groce. The Bobcats simply had a couple of players who got unbelievably hot at the right time.  Groce never finished higher than third in the MAC East.

 

Edited April 3, 2017 by jupitertoo

[clarkwgriswold]

Listened to Joe Dunn's show on the way home and he was speaking to a former Huggins assistant.  I believe his last name was Moeller.  He indicated a large number of people have shown interest in the UA job.  He also repeatedly belittled Williams for having to hire a search firm.  According to this guy, every AD should have a list of 5 or 6 guys always handy in the event that a coach moves on, and that search firms are just a way for an AD to cover his @$$.  The guy was also a big proponent of Groce as he knows Ohio and has head coaching experience. 

[Blue & Gold]

38 minutes ago, ZachTheZip said:

 

DJ Cooper carried that team by transforming into Steph Curry before anybody knew who Steph Curry was, pulling off circus shot after circus shot. Groce hasn't won anything without Cooper. He basically stumbled onto a "diamond in the rough".

Agreed.  That was a good team to be sure.  But without the Magnificent Mr. Cooper they don't go dancing, let alone make a run to the Sweet 16.

[Blue & Gold]

10 minutes ago, jupitertoo said:

As an Ohio fan, I was obviously thrilled with the Sweet 16 run but it had little to do with John Groce. The Bobcats simply had a couple of players who got unbelievably hot at the right time.  Groce never finished higher than third in the MAC East.

 

These are my thoughts on Groce.  I remember even Ivo Baltic was on fire during that Sweet 16 run.  

[clarkwgriswold]

In four seasons at Ohio, Groce was 85–56 overall and 34–30 in Mid-American Conference games.  Not an overwhelmingly successful MAC career, other than the tournament appearances.

[zippy5]

2 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

In four seasons at Ohio, Groce was 85–56 overall and 34–30 in Mid-American Conference games.  Not an overwhelmingly successful MAC career, other than the tournament appearances.

When it comes down to it, this is kind of what we want right? We had the MAC regular season success but no postseason success. That's a trade I'm okay with making. He had LeVert committed there before he left - they were on track to take the next step.

 

11 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

These are my thoughts on Groce.  I remember even Ivo Baltic was on fire during that Sweet 16 run.  

I wish we had a coach that could get our guys playing well at the end of the year.

[NWAkron]

going to start a new thread on the qualities we want in a new coach. 

[Z.I.P.]

3 hours ago, skip-zip said:

 

Grew up nearby in Galion.

Played at Akron.

Guard on the 1986 OVC Championship and NCAA Tournament team.

Assistant to Huggins at Akron

Longtime assistant to Huggins at Cincinnati.  

 

That's what you have, in a nutshell, previous to all of his NBA work.  

 

I stated this earlier, but I love everything about the idea of him being the next coach......if it wasn't for the long absence from college ball.  So, I think we share a similar concern.     

I wrote to AD Mike Bobinsky in 1994 (95?) requesting him to give John Loyer -- the candidate most closely associated with the Akron basketball program at the time -- an interview for the head coaching job after the departure of my friend Coleman Crawford.  Apparently he was never seriously considered, because a guy named "Hipsher" was so highly recommended by the coach at Indiana, and the UA President IIRC (what was her name?)  was a IU BB season ticket holder.  Can someone pull up the oft-repeated vid of Knight talking to our prez on his phone from the podium at a banquet or clinic?  lol

 

Loyer was the Pistons' interim HC for the end of a season, coaching maybe 20-30 NBA games FWIW.  He also is the guy who was pushed out by our beloved former coach at Cincinnati after our BFC committed recruiting violations and needed someone to take the fall for him.  He's a winner (Loyer) and high character.  However, he has not recruited in MANY years, and likely would command a HEFTY salary, given his pro experience. 

 

[skip-zip]

19 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

I wrote to AD Mike Bobinsky in 1994 (95?) requesting him to give John Loyer -- the candidate most closely associated with the Akron basketball program at the time -- an interview for the head coaching job after the departure of my friend Coleman Crawford.  Apparently he was never seriously considered, because a guy named "Hipsher" was so highly recommended by the coach at Indiana, and the UA President IIRC (what was her name?)  was a IU BB season ticket holder.  Can someone pull up the oft-repeated vid of Knight talking to our prez on his phone from the podium at a banquet or clinic?  lol

 

Loyer was the Pistons' interim HC for the end of a season, coaching maybe 20-30 NBA games FWIW.  He also is the guy who was pushed out by our beloved former coach at Cincinnati after our BFC committed recruiting violations and needed someone to take the fall for him.  He's a winner (Loyer) and high character.  However, he has not recruited in MANY years, and likely would command a HEFTY salary, given his pro experience. 

 

 

You talkin about Peggy Elliott?  If you recall, she infamously is given credit for switching us to that bright yellow color on the football unis too.  

 

Great story about promoting Loyer.  Yes, I think everyone believes that the incident in Cincinnati was a "throw someone else under the bus" scenario.  That doesn't concern me.  The lack of recruiting experience does.  Although, his relationships with High Schools from his 10 years in Cincinnati might be good, but maybe too long ago.  

 

Isn't he currently an NBA Scout?  How much money do they make?

Edited April 3, 2017 by skip-zip

[skip-zip]

51 minutes ago, jupitertoo said:

Groce never finished higher than third in the MAC East.

 

I thought this was wrong, but you're exactly right.  I thought we were #1 and OU was #2 going into the MAC tourney in 2012.  But, Buffalo was the #2 that year, and OU was #3. .  

[Oldschool]

1 hour ago, jupitertoo said:

Actually, Anthony Stewart and Jim Christian brought in N'Dour.  And depending on whom you believe, Stewart almost got OU in trouble with the NCAA as a result.

 

My read on the coaching search is that the longer it takes, the more likely the target is a high-profile/expensive coach with complex contract requirements.  And as the price goes up, the school will need to get "creative" in how it finds funding - which takes time.  Important to show fiscal responsibility in light of budget concerns.

 

As an Ohio fan, I was obviously thrilled with the Sweet 16 run but it had little to do with John Groce. The Bobcats simply had a couple of players who got unbelievably hot at the right time.  Groce never finished higher than third in the MAC East.

 

 

[Oldschool]

Well Stewart did bring in N'Dour as well as 8 of the 9 recruits during the Jim Christian Era. Stewart was never "almost" in trouble with the NCAA. That's just a local nobody beat reporter named Jason Arkley that has a bone to pick with Stewart for some reason!!! Arkley's columns are almost as bad as his breath and his bad breath is "LEGENDARY" to folks around here in Athens!!!!!!! 

I worked with Anthony and he's a stand up guy. Jim Christian hasn't had a winning season since Coach Stewart left his staff. Hmmmm???

[morris buttermaker]

3 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

In another blast to my aging ego, I first saw Patrick Ewing at Copley High School in the All-American Cage Classic around 1980-81.  Damn, I am old.

Best player ever at the AACC..... Clark Kellogg

[skip-zip]

13 minutes ago, morris buttermaker said:

Best player ever at the AACC..... Clark Kellogg

 

Man, does that name always bring back memories.  As a teenager growing up in Cleveland, I used to go see Clark play in that ancient gym they had at St. Joseph high school.  

[UAZip0510]

We should know who our new coach is within 24-48 hours.  

[Hilltopper]

3 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

In another blast to my aging ego, I first saw Patrick Ewing at Copley High School in the All-American Cage Classic around 1980-81.  Damn, I am old.

I was there too. Do you remember Ewing punching out Greg Dreiling in one of the preliminary games?