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

[tpsjugglerdude]

CoC is aiming for $2-3m annual revenue share for basketball in addition to NIL. Does anyone know our revenue share? 

[Zippy87]

It doesn't look great, obviously, but I don't consider Groce gone until someone credible confirms it. Right now, we know:

 

- He was a finalist at Butler, per the IndyStar

- He was rumored to have been offered the USF job, but they moved on when he wouldn't commit

- He is the top target at Charleston, but both sources - Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello - qualified their reports by saying a deal wasn't done, with Borzello adding "steps remain for both sides in the next 24 hours"

 

Now, I'm not saying this is what is happening here, but just last year Rob Senderoff (a close friend of Groce's) was reportedly close to leaving Kent for Fordham, only to stay put with a new contract and increased commitment to the basketball program. 

 

Why would Groce not take the USF job if it was truly about the best chance to win? Why would these reports come out today that it was close but not done, right as speculation was increasing that it was done? 

 

I'm just saying...let's let this play out. 

 

[kreed5120]

27 minutes ago, ZipsBBjunkie said:

Not glaring only $1M more in the budget. I would have expected a larger differential. 

 

Biggest difference appeared to be travel, but MAC is very close. Much cheaper to bus than fly.

 

Edit: I would imagine main difference is in NIL. Either school plans to do more revenue share or they have boosters lined up to commit $2M+.

 

Edit: I see @tpsjugglerdude already touched on this.

Edited 6 hours ago by kreed5120

[Zippy87]

https://x.com/i/status/2038033225793073276

[Let'sGoZips94]

Should this turn out to be true, I'm actually excited for all parties.

 

For Groce, Charleston is beautiful and I think that would be a big draw as he gets up there in age. CofC is similar to Akron/MAC and he should be able to continue down a dominant path in a different conference. There's no football to detract from his available resources. 

 

For Akron, I love the idea of Ford as our HC. Keep in mind the first ever assistant Groce hired was Chris Holtmann. Ford joined the staff the following year and has been with Groce ever since. If Ford is anywhere near Holtmann as a HC, we'll be just fine. LCJ's support for Ford is everything I need to know, in addition to Bud Wentz being a big Ford believer. To boot, this is really going to tick off the Ohio fans who have wanted Ford for years. 

 

When Buffalo lost Hurley, they got Oats who ended up being even better. Here's to hoping we're on the same trajectory. 

 

GO ZIPS!

Edited 4 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[Zippy87]

3 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Should this turn out to be true, I'm actually excited for all parties.

 

For Groce, Charleston is beautiful and I think that would be a big draw as he gets up there in age. CofC is similar to Akron/MAC and he should be able to continue down a dominant path in a different conference. There's no football to detract from his available resources. 

 

For Akron, I love the idea of Ford as our HC. Keep in mind the first ever assistant Groce hired was Chris Holtmann. Ford joined the staff the following year and has been with Groce ever since. If Ford is anywhere near Holtmann as a HC, we'll be just fine. LCJ's support for Ford is everything I need to know, in addition to Bud Wentz being a big Ford believer. To boot, this is really going to tick off the Ohio fans who have wanted Ford for years. 

 

When Buffalo lost Hurley, they got Oats who ended up being even better. Here's to hoping we're on the same trajectory. 

 

GO ZIPS!

 

If this happens (and I still think it's a big "if") I agree I would full much better about it if Ford becomes the new HC. He would have player and alumni buy-in, support from Wentz/FTR, give us continuity, and would already have a relationship with existing recruits. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

@dirty-sanchez-thighmaster is listing Bobby Hurley and Keith Dambrot as leading candidates to replace Groce.

[ZipsFan31]

How funny that USF wanted Groce and then settled for Mack. And then CoC gets USF 1st choice to replace Mack. 
 

It’s honestly a bit of a head scratcher. And this timeline makes me think Groce is leveraging these offers to hopefully get Akron to commit more money. 
 

my prediction is he Stays! 

[LZIp]

3 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

It doesn't look great, obviously, but I don't consider Groce gone until someone credible confirms it. Right now, we know:

 

- He was a finalist at Butler, per the IndyStar

- He was rumored to have been offered the USF job, but they moved on when he wouldn't commit

- He is the top target at Charleston, but both sources - Jeff Goodman and Jeff Borzello - qualified their reports by saying a deal wasn't done, with Borzello adding "steps remain for both sides in the next 24 hours"

 

Now, I'm not saying this is what is happening here, but just last year Rob Senderoff (a close friend of Groce's) was reportedly close to leaving Kent for Fordham, only to stay put with a new contract and increased commitment to the basketball program. 

 

Why would Groce not take the USF job if it was truly about the best chance to win? Why would these reports come out today that it was close but not done, right as speculation was increasing that it was done? 

 

I'm just saying...let's let this play out. 

 

100%. If the reports are true, why wouldn’t he have taken USF? CofC isn’t anywhere near as good of job as that with the money they are putting into sports.

[LZIp]

Interesting thought for replacement: 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

I often wonder how much of this stuff is spread by agents and friends of the "candidate." 

[ZippyRulz]

3 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Interesting thought for replacement: 

 

 

If it would open the door to big LBJ money for the program then 💯

[kreed5120]

9 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

 

If it would open the door to big LBJ money for the program then 💯

 

Have you seen his record at Duquesne? He's not been bad, but it's hard to get excited about his performance. Also, if LBJ was going to be a benefactor for his friend wouldn't we already be seeing that take place at Duquesne?

[Zippy87]

13 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

I often wonder how much of this stuff is spread by agents and friends of the "candidate." 

 

100% believe the Goodman/Borzello reports came from Groce's agent, especially considering the tweets came within 9 minutes of each other. Charleston doesn't really gain anything by leaking that. 

[kreed5120]

Noticed Groce's buyout is only $350K. For comparison Mack's at CoC was $1.5M, which was reduced to $1.3M by USF agreeing to a home & home. That seems like a very low sum for a coach that would be on the short list of a lot of coaching searches.

[GP1]

19 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

 

If it would open the door to big LBJ money for the program then 💯

Or not....

[GP1]

Couldn't it just be the case that he is positioning himself and his staff for a nice pay increase at UofA?

[Zips1991]

6 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Couldn't it just be the case that he is positioning himself and his staff for a nice pay increase at UofA?

Let's all band together and donate money for his raise. We can probably offer more than the university is able to offer. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

Let's all band together and donate money for his raise. We can probably offer more than the university is able to offer. 

 

Or Dustin Ford gets a financially friendlier contract and the extra money goes towards NIL/assistants/etc. 

[Illini Zip]

3 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Couldn't it just be the case that he is positioning himself and his staff for a nice pay increase at UofA?

I imagine Groce is more interested in Akron’s overall commitment to advancing the program. Not necessarily his personal salary. He’s not a martyr by any stretch, but I bet he’s more frustrated with getting to the NCAAT and being out classed by so much every year. The NCAAT really matters to Groce, the staff and Wentz. 

[Zips1991]

3 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

I imagine Groce is more interested in Akron’s overall commitment to advancing the program. Not necessarily his personal salary. He’s not a martyr by any stretch, but I bet he’s more frustrated with getting to the NCAAT and being out classed by so much every year. The NCAAT really matters to Groce, the staff and Wentz. 

He could always stay and keep trying. Also, I don't think he's gonna have a better chance to win in the NCAAT at "College of Charleston".

[kreed5120]

25 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

I imagine Groce is more interested in Akron’s overall commitment to advancing the program. Not necessarily his personal salary. He’s not a martyr by any stretch, but I bet he’s more frustrated with getting to the NCAAT and being out classed by so much every year. The NCAAT really matters to Groce, the staff and Wentz. 

 

This is what I imagine as well. Any pay bump he or his staff might get would likely be offset by COL increase. It's probably more about revenue share and NIL commitment. If he leaves for CoC it's probably because he thinks he can turn them into a Utah State with a $2-$3M NIL budget, but feels he took Akron as far as he could given the financial constraints.

Edited 1 hour ago by kreed5120

[Reslife4Life]

2 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

I imagine Groce is more interested in Akron’s overall commitment to advancing the program. Not necessarily his personal salary. He’s not a martyr by any stretch, but I bet he’s more frustrated with getting to the NCAAT and being out classed by so much every year. The NCAAT really matters to Groce, the staff and Wentz. 

That's the thing though, is he really better positioned at Charleston to get to the dance and not get out classed? CoC's record in the tournament is 1-7 with that win coming in 1997. Hofstra got whacked by alabama this year, and last year the CAA champion UNCW lost to Texas Tech in round 1. In 2023 Charleston went 31-3 and got a 12 seed and lost. This is just too similar of a program for this to make sense

[Let'sGoZips94]

Regardless of Groce being better positioned or not, it's absolutely not a step backwards program wise, and a huge step forwards lifestyle wise. Winning 20+ games every year without Akron, OH, winters is going to be so much more enjoyable regardless of the ceiling. It's not like he's potentially taking the Kent job or a similar program north of the Mason Dixon line; this isn't rocket science. 

 

Again, really happy for Groce and his family should this come to fruition. Equally excited for Zips basketball under Dustin Ford. 

[Zippy87]

7 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

He could always stay and keep trying. Also, I don't think he's gonna have a better chance to win in the NCAAT at "College of Charleston".

 

The more I look at Charleston, the more I feel it's pretty darn similar to Akron.

 

- One bid league

 

- Similar conference strength:

CAA - 15th NET, MAC - 17th NET

 

- Similar NCAA Tournament seeding:

CAA seeds, last 5 years: 16, 15, 12, 13, 14

MAC seeds, last 5 years: 13, 13, 14, 13, 12