Staying Close to the Vest - Coach Groce-related News and Views

[akzipper]

2 hours ago, zippy5 said:

There is no drama outside of this board 

 

NE Ohio sports fans have been through so much heartbreak, we just can't enjoy anything without expecting the worst outcome. 

 

It's magnified online, especially on forums and Reddit. 

Edited yesterday at 12:17 AM by akzipper

[Westie]

14 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

NE Ohio sports fans have been through so much heartbreak, we just can't enjoy anything without expecting the worst outcome. 

 

It's magnified online, especially on forums and Reddit. 

Bingo! Always looking over our shoulder. Hopefully Coach is here for a long time.

Go Zips!

[Zippy87]

14 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

NE Ohio sports fans have been through so much heartbreak, we just can't enjoy anything without expecting the worst outcome. 

 

It's magnified online, especially on forums and Reddit. 

 

It is magnified, but I think there's genuine discussions going on behind the scenes. I think his Butler candidacy was very real. Whether that means he will be a candidate anywhere else, who knows? But I do think there was mutual interest for that job. 

 

For me, I worry because I remember the pre-KD days of Akron basketball and don't want to go back. We were incredibly fortunate Groce was available the same time KD left, and we went from one legend to another. I don't think it's fair to expect that same fortune again if he were to leave. 

 

Additionally, I just love this program so much under Groce. He's such a likeable coach, his staff brings in players who are great young men and easy to root for...I'd just hate to see that go, as I'm sure everyone else would. 

[clarkwgriswold]

19 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

It is magnified, but I think there's genuine discussions going on behind the scenes. I think his Butler candidacy was very real. Whether that means he will be a candidate anywhere else, who knows? But I do think there was mutual interest for that job. 

 

For me, I worry because I remember the pre-KD days of Akron basketball and don't want to go back. We were incredibly fortunate Groce was available the same time KD left, and we went from one legend to another. I don't think it's fair to expect that same fortune again if he were to leave. 

 

Additionally, I just love this program so much under Groce. He's such a likeable coach, his staff brings in players who are great young men and easy to root for...I'd just hate to see that go, as I'm sure everyone else would. 

 

I'm just curious as to what leads you to conclude that "his Butler candidacy was very real" and "there was mutual interest for that job".

 

I get that he didn't make some announcement that he was not interested but I can't conclude from that that there was a serious threat of him leaving or an explored interest.

 

I'm certainly with you on the rest of the post.  Lord knows we don't want to return to the Hipsher days! 

[Zippy87]

4 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

I'm just curious as to what leads you to conclude that "his Butler candidacy was very real" and "there was mutual interest for that job".

 

I get that he didn't make some announcement that he was not interested but I can't conclude from that that there was a serious threat of him leaving or an explored interest.

 

I'm certainly with you on the rest of the post.  Lord knows we don't want to return to the Hipsher days! 

 

The Indianapolis Star said he was a finalist for the job. I don't think you get to that level of a process without at least some mutual interest. 

[Illini Zip]

I think Groce and his agent are wise to pursue every legitimate opportunity for advancement. This way he can keep tabs on his market value which then can be used to negotiate future contracts at Akron or elsewhere. Also, it’s good for Akron to have a coach that is in demand and to have the media float his name around. It’s great for recruiting. I think what he says to his team is what is most important. As a Zips fan the process is obviously nerve wrecking, but it sure keeps us from taking him for granted. 

[ZipForNow]

5 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

I think Groce and his agent are wise to pursue every legitimate opportunity for advancement. This way he can keep tabs on his market value which then can be used to negotiate future contracts at Akron or elsewhere. Also, it’s good for Akron to have a coach that is in demand and to have the media float his name around. It’s great for recruiting. I think what he says to his team is what is most important. As a Zips fan the process is obviously nerve wrecking, but it sure keeps us from taking him for granted. 

I agree. I am on the academic side, but even there, when there is interest, you have to pursue the opportunity diligently, maybe even make some over-the-top demands, just to see what is even possible in other places. Then, even if you do not wish to take the job offer, you go back with the offer to your boss and use that to better your position at home. This is simply how it works, maybe in other walks of life as well (executive level in firms, headhunter-dominated fields). Hopefully, this is all that is currently going on. 

 

Wasn't there some wisecrack on X that implied "bald man got too greedy" or some similar sentiment? That could be what is going on. Obviously, I am speculating. 

[zippy5]

25 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

The Indianapolis Star said he was a finalist for the job. I don't think you get to that level of a process without at least some mutual interest. 

I believe the Indy Star reported he was expected to be involved. Perhaps I am misremembering but I don't remember any official outlet going as far as "finalist"

 

Tbh, knowing how well JG seems to like it here, I am wondering if this is some posturing for some more commitment to the program.

[Zippy87]

42 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

I believe the Indy Star reported he was expected to be involved. Perhaps I am misremembering but I don't remember any official outlet going as far as "finalist"

 

Tbh, knowing how well JG seems to like it here, I am wondering if this is some posturing for some more commitment to the program.

 

Doyel: Butler AD Grant Leiendecker found his basketball coach. But he didn't look very hard

 

The other finalist was one of Matta's Butler assistants in 2001, John Groce, a mid-major coach with solid results and a large NIL fund, which means he’s competing with more resources than most of the MAC.

[NWAkron]

anyone checking private jets from CAK to Charleston?

[akzipper]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

anyone checking private jets from CAK to Charleston?

 

Wait are we really going to lose our coach to the College of Charleston? Is this how it ends? That would be a new low. 

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

Wait are we really going to lose our coach to the College of Charleston? Is this how it ends? That would be a new low. 

 

I think you may have overlooked @NWAkron sarcasm.

[Zippy87]

9 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

Wait are we really going to lose our coach to the College of Charleston? Is this how it ends? That would be a new low. 

 

I can't fathom that one. Definitely a step down from Akron. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

17 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

I can't fathom that one. Definitely a step down from Akron. 

 

CoC was paying Chris Mack more than Groce annually. 

[Zippy87]

15 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

CoC was paying Chris Mack more than Groce annually. 

 

I mean in terms of competitiveness. Lateral move at best. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

I mean in terms of competitiveness. Lateral move at best. 

 

Totally agree in that sense. Nothing Groce could achieve there that he couldn't at Akron.

[kreed5120]

Yes, salary is also likely comparable once you adjust for cost of living as well. Groce I believe got a combined $100K bonus for winning the MAC Tournament and making the tournament. That would have brought his total compensation to like $950K.

Edited 6 hours ago by kreed5120

[Zips1991]

If he leaves for "College of Charleston", we have bigger problems than we thought.

[ZippyRulz]

On 3/20/2026 at 3:28 PM, 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.

 

Thanks for the thread rename BTW 👍

[akzipper]

1 hour ago, Zips1991 said:

If he leaves for "College of Charleston", we have bigger problems than we thought.

 

I thought the same thing about Duquesne. Lateral move at best. But the A10 is significantly better than the CAA or whatever. 

[Reslife4Life]

Last year or the year before, we were worried about groce leaving for the Indiana Hoosiers. I think all the talk about USF, College of Charleston, and depaul if it got there is crazy. If groce is somehow a finalist for UNC then I’d be worried, but I really have my doubts about these lateral moves after he has had so much success here and signed a contract extension last year

[kreed5120]

Once again I don't think anyone thought he was going to the College of Charleston. @NWAkron was clearly being facetious and some took the bait.

[Zippy87]

2 hours ago, akzipper said:

 

I thought the same thing about Duquesne. Lateral move at best. But the A10 is significantly better than the CAA or whatever. 

 

There was also pretty clear family tie to Duquesne for Dambrot. His leading his dad's former team to a tournament win was awesome to watch. That move made total sense to me. 

 

Groce going to Butler or Indiana or somewhere else close to home would make sense to me for the same reasons. I don't think he's making a lateral move unless there's a reason outside of basketball. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

Groce was rumored as a speculative candidate early on for Boston College. Another door closed.

[roopride]

A lot of bald coaches.