Staying Close to John Groce - Coach-related News and Views

[akzipper]

3 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

 

All of this history is probably why Groce is underrated nationally. Still, given UA’s status as a MAC dynasty, it would come as no surprise if Groce were to receive another shot to lead a major program. Speculation has already been swirling about Groce, whose contract with Akron is scheduled to run until June 30, 2035, becoming a candidate at Cincinnati, Butler and Boston College.

Groce called his Akron predecessor Keith Dambrot “a legend” when Dambrot announced his retirement as Duquesne’s coach in 2024. Groce inherited an excellent program from Dambrot. Since then, Groce has elevated it and surpassed Dambrot’s three trips to the NCAA Tournament with the Zips.

If this iteration of March Madness proves to be Groce’s last hurrah with Akron, it’s been a great run, one worthy of love from Zips fans.

 

I was pretty angry when Dambrot left. Somehow we landed a better coach.

 

It will be hard to replace Groce. But I like to think we are strong enough as a program that the culture can continue going forward. 

Edited yesterday at 04:33 PM by akzipper

[ZippyRulz]

Somebody had the chance to title this thread Staying Close to the Vest, and fumbled 😉 

 

Even with the NIL money, JG has to be feeling somewhat ceilinged at Akron. He is still young enough to want another crack at a P4 IMO.

Edited yesterday at 07:56 PM by ZippyRulz

[Let'sGoZips94]

18 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

Somebody had the chance to title this thread Staying Close to the Vest, and fumbled.

 

Even with the NIL money, JG has to be feeling somewhat ceilinged at Akron. He is still young enough to want another crack at a P4 IMO.

 

He won 3 tourney games at Ohio. If anything, JG probably wants to break whatever glass ceiling is over this program because he can. 

[ZippyRulz]

That was pre NIL. The climb has become a lot steeper. One wonders what TT's budget is now(?)

[Let'sGoZips94]

7 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

That was pre NIL. The climb has become a lot steeper. One wonders what TT's budget is now(?)

 

I don't know that it has. This tournament is proof of that so far. 

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

That was pre NIL. The climb has become a lot steeper. One wonders what TT's budget is now(?)

You don't have to wonder. Estimated figures are out there. I think Texas Tech was around $10.5 million if I remember correctly. I imagine $3-$4 million of that went to Toppin who obviously didn't play.

 

You can still win as a mid-major. The margin of error is just very small. It requires a great gameplan and even better execution. 

[Zippy87]

Groce will certainly have some tempting offers. Butler is the one to watch, IMO. 

[akzipper]

3 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

He won 3 tourney games at Ohio. If anything, JG probably wants to break whatever glass ceiling is over this program because he can. 

 

If Groce can win a tournament game for the Zips he deserves a statue and a new arena built in his honor. 

 

Unlike Cleveland sports, we actually appreciate accomplishments. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

11 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

If Groce can win a tournament game for the Zips he deserves a statue and a new arena built in his honor. 

 

Unlike Cleveland sports, we actually appreciate accomplishments. 

 

Akron would give him the key to the city. He'd have to win a Natty at a P4 for that kind of love. 

[Zippy87]

8 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

I was pretty angry when Dambrot left. Somehow we landed a better coach.

 

It will be hard to replace Groce. But I like to think we are strong enough as a program that the culture can continue going forward. 

 

If Groce leaves, I'm guessing Young and Mahaffey leave, too, which means a new coach would basically be building from scratch. I also don't think we'll be as fortunate as we were when KD left in having a coach the caliber of Groce being available. 

[kreed5120]

10 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

If Groce leaves, I'm guessing Young and Mahaffey leave, too, which means a new coach would basically be building from scratch. I also don't think we'll be as fortunate as we were when KD left in having a coach the caliber of Groce being available. 

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Dustin Ford was offered the job under said scenario. Especially since the closest thing to a Groce hire (coach with previous MAC success) would be Hurley and he doesn't fit the culture we've built. In that case I don't feel it's a given that either leave 

[Zippy87]

 

Akron Zips men's basketball coach John Groce understands college sports is a business, but he didn't want to shift the focus to a discussion about his future on the heels of UA's 91-71 loss to Texas Tech in a first-round Midwest Region matchup on Friday, March 20, at Benchmark International Arena.

Groce being linked by media to other head coaching jobs at Cincinnati, Butler and Boston College is a reflection of the success he has achieved in his nine seasons at the helm of Akron.
In a one-on-one interview after Akron was eliminated from March Madness, the Beacon Journal asked Groce whether he plans to interview elsewhere this offseason.

"What I would tell you is right now I'm not even thinking about that," Groce said. "I don't answer those questions, obviously, especially today when today's the day about our five seniors. This whole deal should be all about them and all about the team and the success that we've had. So, that's my comment at this time."

[Zippy87]

5 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Dustin Ford was offered the job under said scenario. Especially since the closest thing to a Groce hire (coach with previous MAC success) would be Hurley and he doesn't fit the culture we've built. In that case I don't feel it's a given that either leave 

 

Ford has been with Groce since 2009, from Ohio to Illinois to Akron. I would assume he would leave with Groce if he takes another job. 

[Zippy87]

5 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Akron Zips men's basketball coach John Groce understands college sports is a business, but he didn't want to shift the focus to a discussion about his future on the heels of UA's 91-71 loss to Texas Tech in a first-round Midwest Region matchup on Friday, March 20, at Benchmark International Arena.

Groce being linked by media to other head coaching jobs at Cincinnati, Butler and Boston College is a reflection of the success he has achieved in his nine seasons at the helm of Akron.
In a one-on-one interview after Akron was eliminated from March Madness, the Beacon Journal asked Groce whether he plans to interview elsewhere this offseason.

"What I would tell you is right now I'm not even thinking about that," Groce said. "I don't answer those questions, obviously, especially today when today's the day about our five seniors. This whole deal should be all about them and all about the team and the success that we've had. So, that's my comment at this time."

 

FWIW, this was Groce last March:

 

Meanwhile, Groce's name is circulating on social media because some fans and media members have been pointing to his success in eight seasons at Akron and wondering whether he'll land another job this offseason.

 

“When that stuff happens, I mean, it's flattering, right? And more than likely it means that people think you've done a decent job,” Groce said with a laugh. “But, for me, I kind of just take it one day at a time.”

 

Groce and his staff met with Zips players Sunday. So as the players made decisions about their futures with the program, what did Groce tell them about the status of his job?

 

“It didn't even really come up,” Groce said. “I mean, we don't deal in speculation. I mean, I don't do that. Hey, if this, if that, if this — we don't do that. So they know, obviously, how I feel about them and our program and what we're building, and that's how we handle it.

 

“That stuff, I don't deal with speculation, either way — them to us, us to them. I say, 'Here's where we're at. Here's what it is. Here's where we're attempting to go. Here's the strategy in order to do that. Here's our vision.' So I think the communication is important between player and coaches and coaches and player.”

 

 

[kreed5120]

11 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Ford has been with Groce since 2009, from Ohio to Illinois to Akron. I would assume he would leave with Groce if he takes another job. 

 

Time will tell. I would imagine we'll know more very soon, perhaps by weekends end. Schools like Butler or Cincy are going to want to fill their vacancies in the coming days that way whoever they hire has a chance re-recruit players on the current roster before the portal opens up.

Edited 22 hours ago by kreed5120

[Reslife4Life]

I hate that we have to go through this every year at this point. He could sign a contract until 2059 but the first thought after the season ends is “Is groce leaving?” It’s unfair to everyone involved in the Akron program that we can’t go 24 hours into the offseason before the speculation starts. It’s that deep-rooted P5/ESPN/SEC/Ohio State bias showing through

[Zippy87]

15 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Time will tell. I would imagine we'll know more very soon, perhaps by weekends end. Schools like Butler or Cincy are going to want to fill their vacancies in the coming days that way whoever they hire has a chance re-recruit players on the current roster before the portal opens up.

 

Jarrod Calhoun seems like the favorite at Cincinnati. Ronald Nored is the name most mentioned for Butler, although Groce and Steele would certainly be candidates there. Boston College has been mentioned for Groce, too. Butler is the job I am worried about the most. 

 

Like you said, this is going to move fairly quickly. 

[Zippy87]

Terry Pluto:

 

Groce could be a hot name for several openings, such as Butler, where he once was an assistant. His mentor is Thad Matta, who is retiring as Butler’s head coach – but he will be part of the group looking for a replacement.

But Groce also has been very content at Akron. He never seems to be looking for another job. He has something very special with the Zips and seems to know it.
He will have to rebuild, as key players Lyles, Johnson, Scott and Evan Mahaffey are out of eligibility. Groce will probably figure it out and add players to keep Akron among the MAC’s elite programs.
That’s something to remember on this day when the Zips’ season ended.

[Zippy87]

 

Steele doesn't sound like a coach planning to leave. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Steele doesn't sound like a coach planning to leave. 

 

He would've signed that extension if he was 100% staying. 

[clarkwgriswold]

If Groce left, I think they'd offer it to Dustin.  He'd then have to decide how much he wants to be a head coach.  He could be the head coach at UA or head assistant at a P5 where he's likely get paid better than as HC at UA.

[Sergeant Zip]

From Nate Ulrich of the ABJ: Groce 'not even thinking about' job market after loss

"In a one-on-one interview after Akron was eliminated from March Madness, the Beacon Journal asked Groce whether he plans to interview elsewhere this offseason.

 

"What I would tell you is right now I'm not even thinking about that," Groce said. "I don't answer those questions, obviously, especially today when today's the day about our five seniors. This whole deal should be all about them and all about the team and the success that we've had. So, that's my comment at this time.""

 

[kreed5120]

9 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

He would've signed that extension if he was 100% staying. 

 

Even if he signed it's still not a guarantee. I'm almost certain Oats signed an extension with Buffalo and then was in Tuscaloosa a month later.

[ZipsBBjunkie]

One thing to consider is John continues to have the chance to coach his son at UA - now what, only two years away from celebrating senior night with him at UA which you have to think would be incredibly meaningful. Another son in high school here. A lot of factors behind decision like this. 
 

Not to mention, his name could be floated around, certainly he’s established his reputation as one of the best mid-major coaches in the country, but competition for all of these jobs is fierce out there, no guarantee he gets any opportunity to leave. 

[a-zip]

On 3/15/2026 at 11:08 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Remember when Bud Wentz said in an interview that Akron has nicer facilities than JMU a few years back when JMU was the hottest thing in college sports? He was referring to everything that matters to players - practice facility, locker room, rehab, etc. These guys spend 80% of their time in those areas and it's a very easy sell to players/recruits. In addition, they're connected with a life-long financial stability partner in Bud/Wentz Financial Group which is seemingly not something many programs are offering. This is the recipe for the successful culture we are reaping the benefits of as fans. Bud funds the attractions while Groce & his staff find the high character, high skill players that value said attractions. Whatever they do going forward I trust because they damn sure have earned that trust. 

 

With that being said, more comfortable seating would go a long way with the community haha. 

Nice try.    https://jmusports.com/Facilities