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

[Illini Zip]

You can’t even write off NIL donations, correct?

[Zippy87]

6 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

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.

 

This. A lot of talk about how wonderful Charleston is but not enough about what he has in Akron. 

 

- Basically a lifetime contract. The only way he would ever lose his job here is if he did something immoral off the court.

- One of the best NIL budgets in the conference, a NIL Collective that has grown considerably in it's participation and impact in recent years, and a great relationship with the person who leads it. 

- Excellent relationships in the community he has built over many years. 

- A history of consistent winning gping back 20+ years surely recognized by potential recruits. 

- A proud tradition of success for players post-graduation playing professionally. 

 

I'll also push back on the "he's done all he can do at Akron" stuff. We were in that game with Texas Tech until it unraveled with a few minutes left. We almost beat UCLA. The MAC was a two-bid league for the first time in a long time. There's a lot of momentum here to keep climbing. 

 

[Zippy87]

 

Local station in Charleston quoting the AD as saying no offer has been made to Groce (also a hilarious pronunciation of "Akron")

[kreed5120]

30 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

I'm not quite sure how any NIL donor is going to make money off of their donations? 

 

Not all returns have to be financial. He's obviously getting fulfillment, as are others, but there will always be limitations to what those experiences are conceivably worth. Bud obviously has money, but he accumulated his wealth owning and building a small investment office. It's not like he's Dan Gilbert rich and can write blank checks. 

[Zippy87]

3 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Not all returns have to be financial. He's obviously getting fulfillment, as are others, but there will always be limitations to what those experiences are conceivably worth. Bud obviously has money, but he accumulated his wealth owning and building a small investment office. It's not like he's Dan Gilbert rich and can write blank checks. 

 

Oh for sure, don't get me wrong - I get all of the non-financial reasons he would do it. I would do it if I were in his position. He loves Akron basketball. I was just responded to someone saying he may stop if he isn't getting a financial return. 

[Westie]

11 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Local station in Charleston quoting the AD as saying no offer has been made to Groce (also a hilarious pronunciation of "Akron")

Long A in Akron. What a moron

[Illini Zip]

18 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Local station in Charleston quoting the AD as saying no offer has been made to Groce (also a hilarious pronunciation of "Akron")

I think when she sees Akron, she thinks acorn.

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by Illini Zip

[clarkwgriswold]

My heart keeps telling me this is all rumor but I keep hearing more and more to convince me this threat is real.

[NWAkron]

23 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

My heart keeps telling me this is all rumor but I keep hearing more and more to convince me this threat is real.

Acceptance is the first step.  I thought I saw Mike Lewis at the Montrose Starbucks this morning.

[Zippy87]

26 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

My heart keeps telling me this is all rumor but I keep hearing more and more to convince me this threat is real.

 

The threat is absolutely real. If it wasn't, Groce/his team could've squashed the rumors. Now, whether or not that turns into reality, we will see. 

[roopride]

Yes to some reality here.   Why would John leverage the University twice?    Ok maybe he did not with USF but hard to imagine the University or Bud would not have reacted with some counter.

Must be something here.   

Although I do believe the MAC and Akron are a better conference, fit, etc..

[ZipForNow]

5 minutes ago, roopride said:

Yes to some reality here.   Why would John leverage the University twice?    Ok maybe he did not with USF but hard to imagine the University or Bud would not have reacted with some counter.

Must be something here.   

Although I do believe the MAC and Akron are a better conference, fit, etc..

Nice to be courted and see what’s out there. Makes requests to Goodrich credible.

[ZipsBBjunkie]

52 minutes ago, ZipForNow said:

Nice to be courted and see what’s out there. Makes requests to Goodrich credible.

He did this successfully last season as well. Less reported on but absolutely did happen. 

[mrelegazna]

4 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Local station in Charleston quoting the AD as saying no offer has been made to Groce (also a hilarious pronunciation of "Akron")

I mentioned before I'm not in NEO anymore.  I once had an acquaintance pronounce it Ack-RON, which sounds like the name of a robot.  

I didn't think when I hit "play" on this video this newscaster would butcher it WORSE than that.  I am impressed.

P.S.  This acquaintance was from Elkton, Maryland, so *all she had to do* was follow the same pronunciation style of her own city, but nope. LOL

[Hilltopper]

If there is one thing I have learned in 40 years owning a business, no one is irreplaceable, not even me.

[NWAkron]

Graveyards are full of indispensable men.

[Illini Zip]

I think @NWAkron is going to whack Groce!!

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, Illini Zip said:

I think @NWAkron is going to whack Groce!!

Change can be exciting.  A renewal.

[ZipsFan31]

Groce has hit a ceiling here unless we can get about 1 million more in NIL. I think he is trying to leverage this offseason to find it. If Akron doesn’t give in. I think he will go as I don’t think he is bluffing. 
 

does that announcement of the expanded Nike/LeBron partnership give any hope. 

[Zippy87]

Bud Wentz retweeted these...interesting...

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Zippy87

[GP1]

4 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

If there is one thing I have learned in 40 years owning a business, no one is irreplaceable, not even me.

Someone once told me that a manager must be able to manage two things:  safety and turnover. If this all goes down, we'll find out how good the ad really is. 

[Reslife4Life]

On 3/28/2026 at 3:53 PM, ZipsBBjunkie said:

 

Well its been 24 hours. Is this a Monday 9am type of thing?

[clarkwgriswold]

5 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Someone once told me that a manager must be able to manage two things:  safety and turnover. If this all goes down, we'll find out how good the ad really is. 

Here's hoping he's good enough to get Dustin and then smart enough to stay the hell out of the way of Dustin and Bud.

[akzipper]

Losing our best two coaches ever to Duquesne and Charleston is about as painful as it gets.

 

Nobody can convince me that the CCA and Charleston is a step up. If it is, we have big problems. 

[Reslife4Life]

18 minutes ago, akzipper said:

Losing our best two coaches ever to Duquesne and Charleston is about as painful as it gets.

 

Nobody can convince me that the CCA and Charleston is a step up. If it is, we have big problems. 

The only things that make Charleston sound like a step up are a lack of football team, and the weather. If those are actually true I don't know how Akron would prevent this from happening again with another successful coach