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

[mrelegazna]

8 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

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. 

 

 

To each his own, but I moved from Akron to Dallas (with a few stops in-between) and I would take Akron winters over Dallas summers any day of the week.  Further, I *miss* "real" winter. The approximately 1 time a year snow accumulates here, I can't wait to get outside and hear my feet crunch in the snow and smell the cold air - all of the sensations I miss and feel "right" to me.

Now, some people absolutely hate the kind of winters Akron has even if they grew up in it (sounds like maybe that number includes you?) But Groce, who by the looks of it has only spend four years of his life in a "nicer" climate than Akron, might not be one of them.  I'd be really surprised if weather is anything but the most minor of factors in his decision.

[Let'sGoZips94]

24 minutes ago, mrelegazna said:

To each his own, but I moved from Akron to Dallas (with a few stops in-between) and I would take Akron winters over Dallas summers any day of the week.  Further, I *miss* "real" winter. The approximately 1 time a year snow accumulates here, I can't wait to get outside and hear my feet crunch in the snow and smell the cold air - all of the sensations I miss and feel "right" to me.

Now, some people absolutely hate the kind of winters Akron has even if they grew up in it (sounds like maybe that number includes you?) But Groce, who by the looks of it has only spend four years of his life in a "nicer" climate than Akron, might not be one of them.  I'd be really surprised if weather is anything but the most minor of factors in his decision.

 

Dallas isn't on the ocean; I'm sure Charleston summers are much more pleasant. 

 

Agreed on "to each their own" but it's far from unfathomable that CofC would be desirable for a multitude of reasons - weather and lifestyle included. 

[Reslife4Life]

Could you imagine if a main factor of losing the most successful coach in the program's history is the weather? This makes me wonder what Groce's relationship with Goodrich is

[ZippyRulz]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

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?

 

Maybe, but Duquesne has already done their arena upgrades and I think DJ3 back in Akron would just hit a bit different for his friend. Not that I think that will happen.

 

 

[Zippy87]

15 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

Could you imagine if a main factor of losing the most successful coach in the program's history is the weather? This makes me wonder what Groce's relationship with Goodrich is

 

I don't really think it's a factor at all. If he really leaves, I think it is because he is not content with the financial support his program receives in Akron from the university. 

Edited 9 hours ago by Zippy87

[kreed5120]

44 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said:

 

Maybe, but Duquesne has already done their arena upgrades and I think DJ3 back in Akron would just hit a bit different for his friend. Not that I think that will happen.

 

Here I thought you meant he would he would write a check for ~$500K to buy a player or two. Instead you think he's going to gift the University 10s of millions for a new arena.

 

I think there is a greater chance of one of us on this board winning a $1 billion mega millions jackpot and gifting the University ~$75 million than LeBron doing that just because his friend is the coach.

[GP1]

He wouldn't find himself in a better position to win an NCAA game.

 

Charleston is one of the few places he should leave for. At his age and close to being or is an empty nester, living somewhere like Mt. Pleasant could be awesome. I'm in Charleston at least once a month. With the kind of money he probably has, the lifestyle could be great. 

[1981 grad]

When Tavari decided last year at this time to enter the transfer portal, Coach Groce spoke to him and told him "to think about what he already had."  Tavari then decided to take his name out of the portal and had a great season.  I hope that Coach Groce decides to follow his own advice.

[clarkwgriswold]

Maybe he's just up for a new challenge?  Maybe he's come to the conclusion that he's done all he can do at Akron and that the support, pay and facilities are all they're ever going to be.  I can't imagine a pessimistic John Groce but who knows.

[clarkwgriswold]

4 hours ago, GP1 said:

He wouldn't find himself in a better position to win an NCAA game.

 

Charleston is one of the few places he should leave for. At his age and close to being or is an empty nester, living somewhere like Mt. Pleasant could be awesome. I'm in Charleston at least once a month. With the kind of money he probably has, the lifestyle could be great. 

 

His daughter is only 9 or 10 so the empty nester thing isn't bearing down on him quite yet.

[Westie]

46 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Maybe he's just up for a new challenge?  Maybe he's come to the conclusion that he's done all he can do at Akron and that the support, pay and facilities are all they're ever going to be.  I can't imagine a pessimistic John Groce but who knows.

100% agree. He hasn’t done anything to squash the speculation. After almost a decade, maybe he decided it’s time. If so, what a run it’s been. 
 

Charleston is a beautiful place. If he goes, I wish him well. If he stays, that would be great. Simple as that. 

[zippy5]

 

 

 

 

Edited 57 minutes ago by zippy5

[Westie]

2 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

https://x.com/i/status/2038091528766156996

Oh boy … the plot thickens 

[zippy5]

I'm a Penguins fan. In 2007, they were on the verge of moving to KC before a new arena was finally delivered in Pittsburgh. Not that we're getting an arena out of this, but if Groce leveraged some other jobs to get some extra staff and NIL money, I'll happily deal with the emotional rollercoaster this week 

[AkronAlumnus]

After sleeping on it, I too agree w/ many of you - CAA is a step down from the MAC.

[ZippyRulz]

The university itself doesn't have any extra funding to put into sports and can't be 'leveraged' in that way by coaches.

 

 

 

[zippy5]

1 minute ago, ZippyRulz said:

The university itself doesn't have any extra funding to put into sports and can't be 'leveraged' in that way by coaches.

 

 

 

Donors, and some rebalancing between sports

Edited 28 minutes ago by zippy5

[ZippyRulz]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Maybe he's just up for a new challenge?  Maybe he's come to the conclusion that he's done all he can do at Akron and that the support, pay and facilities are all they're ever going to be.  I can't imagine a pessimistic John Groce but who knows.

 

I think you may be on to something there. Short of finding an additional Bud Wentz or two he's done all he can do at Akron. If only we could establish some kind of connection to some kind of uber-wealthy oligarch/billionaire/private equity type with some kind of connection to Akron and an interest in basketball... 

 

Fundraising ability (along with culture) will be a bigger consideration than X's & O's ability, pedigree, coaching tree etc. in finding the next coach whenever JG moves on.

 

[Reslife4Life]

6 hours ago, GP1 said:

Charleston is one of the few places he should leave for. At his age and close to being or is an empty nester, living somewhere like Mt. Pleasant could be awesome.

How about an annual road trip to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan instead?

[akzipper]

Just now, ZippyRulz said:

 

I think you may be on to something there. Short of finding an additional Bud Wentz or two he's done all he can do at Akron. If only we could establish some kind of connection to some kind of uber-wealthy oligarch/billionaire/private equity type with some kind of connection to Akron and an interest in basketball... 

 

Fundraising ability (along with culture) will be a bigger consideration than X's & O's ability, pedigree, coaching tree etc. in finding the next coach whenever JG moves on.

 

 

It's not sustainable to rely on one guy to fund our entire program and get nothing in return but a 3peat hat or courtside seats. Financially minded people, specifically rich folks, all want to see money come back to themselves at some point. 

[Zips1991]

10 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

It's not sustainable to rely on one guy to fund our entire program and get nothing in return but a 3peat hat or courtside seats. Financially minded people, specifically rich folks, all want to see money come back to themselves at some point. 

Well, I would think he's getting some additional business from all of the advertising he gets. But I'm also sure it's not as much as he's spending so it just depends how long his passion for Akron basketball keeps outweighing his financial losses.