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John Groce Officially Hired


Dr Z

John Groce as the head coach at Akron  

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  1. 1. What do you think of John Groce?


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1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

Only if he's a good recruiter.  Recruiting is 90% of the battle.  

 

That coaching staff had become so inbred it was getting pathetic.  We needed fresh blood.  Desperately.

 

And we got it, baby! :rock:

 

 

I do support a Dials who has been one of the better recruiters in my area.  I do know he had Graves (#1 rated G in the State) and Jackson (#1 rated PG in the State) going to Toledo. I think there are 2 more but can't say definitely. And from what I know, he isn't part of the "inbred" staff. Out of all the former players, he is by far the most seasoned. And is one of the brainiest ballers I have ever seen.  Maybe there are other former players out there that I don't know of, but from the ones I do, he is qualified, ready, and good. 

 

I agree with you about that staff.  I have dealt with a couple of them, and they are honestly, awful.  They will run into problems at Duquesne I think.  They are going to have to recruit a higher level of talent and Im not sure they know what that is or how to get it.  

 

With the coaching staff now in place, it would be nice to have a familiar face at the DBO spot.  That is the spot that most supporters communicate with anyways. 

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I feel a lot of people are just looking for things to talk as there are a lot of unanswered questions right now and really no current solutions. The lack of buzz on the recruiting trail leads me to believe there is a good chance we'll still be looking to add key pieces in June or July.

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12 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

The landscape of recruiting has changed. Last time I looked there were over 400 names on the transfer list at verbalcommits.com. I'm sure Groce is not just sitting on his hands and is actively looking for more players. It's just going to take some time.

 

Not what I was trying to insinuate. I was saying this is going to be a long-drawn-out process and anyone that expected a quick resolution on the makeup of our roster is going to be in for a surprise.

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1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Not what I was trying to insinuate. I was saying this is going to be a long-drawn-out process and anyone that expected a quick resolution on the makeup of our roster is going to be in for a surprise.

 

I hope it's not a VERY long process, but I doubt if a couple of late plug-ins are going to do us much good right now.  It might be close to approaching an extensive rebuild, which I was hoping could be avoided.      

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5 hours ago, Blackburn said:

I mean, from what I hear, he may have pissed off Akron staff... Goes undefeated for 2 years against them and takes 4 players out of their backyard.  

 

That could be true.  But I wouldn't say that it's visible.  Late in the season, Nick was at one of our homes games (I don't know if anyone else saw him).  My wife and I were lingering around on the edge of the floor after the game chatting with some people, and Nick was over there near the locker room entrance waiting for Keith to come out for his radio interview.  When he came out, they hugged each other and looked genuinely happy to see each other.  

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12 hours ago, Blackburn said:

 

I mean, from what I hear, he may have pissed off Akron staff... Goes undefeated for 2 years against them and takes 4 players out of their backyard.  

 

I'm sure he pissed them off but it had nothing to do with recruiting/losses.  I'll leave it at that though, no need to bash the guy for past mistakes.  Just saying - there's reasons Dials was let go by UT.

Edited by UAZip0510
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4 hours ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

I'm sure he pissed them off but it had nothing to do with recruiting/losses.  I'll leave it at that though, no need to bash the guy for past mistakes.  Just saying - there's reasons Dials was let go by UT.

 

I do know why Dials was let go by UT, and it is of no fault of his own. Quite shady it is I might add. There is a reason that kids de-committed after.

 

For that comment to be made is just pure bashing. Knowing what I know, you need to explain yourself rather than come on here and throw dirt at something you obviously have no clue about.

Edited by Blackburn
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12 hours ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

I'm sure he pissed them off but it had nothing to do with recruiting/losses.  I'll leave it at that though, no need to bash the guy for past mistakes.  Just saying - there's reasons Dials was let go by UT.

 

So you don't think that your post is bashing the guy?

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13 minutes ago, Valpo Zip said:

 

So you don't think that your post is bashing the guy?

 

I didn't intend it to, although I concede I didn't make him sound favorable.  I don't want Dials here and have my reasons, but I also respect he's a man trying to build a career to support his family.  He's also a former Zip, of course, so you won't hear any more from me on him. 

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7 hours ago, Blackburn said:

 

I do know why Dials was let go by UT, and it is of no fault of his own. Quite shady it is I might add. There is a reason that kids de-committed after.

 

For that comment to be made is just pure bashing. Knowing what I know, you need to explain yourself rather than come on here and throw dirt at something you obviously have no clue about.

 

I do have a clue about it.  Maybe not ALL of the behind-the-scenes stuff at UT, but certainly about his relationship with UA's program after leaving. I also know the way UT handled letting Nick go was awful by anyone's measure and that he deserved better.  I do find it curious to see some all of the sudden against being critical of coaches, but it is what it is.  With all of that said, as I noted in my previous post, I'm going to pass on going further than this on the topic.  Best of luck to Nick.  

Edited by UAZip0510
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39 minutes ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

I didn't intend it to, although I concede I didn't make him sound favorable.  I don't want Dials here and have my reasons, but I also respect he's a man trying to build a career to support his family.  He's also a former Zip, of course, so you won't hear any more from me on him. 

 

Sounds like baseless, personal bad blood... He run around with your girlfriend back in the day or something?

 

Having experience working with all Zips staff (not to mention other schools across the country) over the past 15 years or so, he by far was the best one to work with and most positive and down to earth...  I will always push my kids to have him (a few other coaches as well) at the top of their lists. 

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11 hours ago, Blackburn said:

 

Sounds like baseless, personal bad blood... He run around with your girlfriend back in the day or something?

 

Having experience working with all Zips staff (not to mention other schools across the country) over the past 15 years or so, he by far was the best one to work with and most positive and down to earth...  I will always push my kids to have him (a few other coaches as well) at the top of their lists. 

 

This is the silliest thing I've ever read on ZN, and we all know it gets ridiculous here.  Congrats! 

 

I've had no personal experience with Nick.  I'm basing my opinion of him as a coach on second-hand information from people I trust.  I am, however, happy you've had great personal experience with him and wish him well.

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4 minutes ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

This is the silliest thing I've ever read on ZN, and we all know it gets ridiculous here.  Congrats! 

 

I've had no personal experience with Nick.  I'm basing my opinion of him as a coach on second-hand information from people I trust.  I am, however, happy you've had great personal experience with him and wish him well.

 

So you are willing to go on a faceless forum and bash a guy without having any interaction with him whatsoever?  

 

Seems like you have been called and backed in a corner and now trying to scratch yourself out... I get tired of people doing that on here and anywhere else. Needs to be stopped.  

 

22 hours ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

 Just saying - there's reasons Dials was let go by UT.

 

Go from that to.....

 

11 hours ago, UAZip0510 said:

 

I do have a clue about it.  Maybe not ALL of the behind-the-scenes stuff at UT, but certainly about his relationship with UA's program after leaving. I also know the way UT handled letting Nick go was awful by anyone's measure and that he deserved better. 

 

Qualify as SILLY?

 

 

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5 hours ago, Blackburn said:

 

So you are willing to go on a faceless forum and bash a guy without having any interaction with him whatsoever?  

 

Seems like you have been called and backed in a corner and now trying to scratch yourself out... I get tired of people doing that on here and anywhere else. Needs to be stopped.  

 

 

Go from that to.....

 

 

Qualify as SILLY?

 

 

 

I mean...

 

20170417_154132.png

 

Didn't you do the same thing there?  Listen, I was wrong to bash Dials based on what I've heard instead of my personal experience.  I will always hold my opinions, but saying what I did didn't contribute to the conversation.  That's why I've owned that mistake.  I think we both bring good insight and that we're better than my comments on Dials and yours on Dambrot's staff.  At this point, if you'd like to discuss further, feel free to message me, but I'm done discussing it here.  Let's get back to constructive debate.

Edited by UAZip0510
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On 4/17/2017 at 3:39 PM, UAZip0510 said:

 

I mean...

 

20170417_154132.png

 

Didn't you do the same thing there?  Listen, I was wrong to bash Dials based on what I've heard instead of my personal experience.  I will always hold my opinions, but saying what I did didn't contribute to the conversation.  That's why I've owned that mistake.  I think we both bring good insight and that we're better than my comments on Dials and yours on Dambrot's staff.  At this point, if you'd like to discuss further, feel free to message me, but I'm done discussing it here.  Let's get back to constructive debate.

 

 

And those thoughts ARE from my experience having worked with them... And ANYONE who has been to a practice knows its the case. I go to more practices across the nearby region and KD did more, and HAD to, than ANY OTHER HC. Not even close!  

 

You are missing the point!

Edited by Blackburn
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