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

[AkronAlumnus]

Just now, zippy5 said:

it seems crazy to me that he supposedly priced himself out of the USF job so they settled for the CoC coach, but CoC as able to then meet his demands. Maybe the USF rumblings weren't as real as we thought

Makes me think the Butler ones weren't either.. 

[kreed5120]

6 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

it seems crazy to me that he supposedly priced himself out of the USF job so they settled for the CoC coach, but CoC as able to then meet his demands. Maybe the USF rumblings weren't as real as we thought

 

It might not have just been salary. It likely takes more NIL to be competitive in the AAC compared to CAA. It could be that wherever he went he wanted to make sure they were the top spenders in their conference.

[clarkwgriswold]

Zips basketball fandom has passed through denial and bargaining, and are most of the way through anger.  Depression and acceptance ahead.

[Hilltopper]

I wish JG well in his new endeavor. We survived Dambrots departure. We will survive this one too.

[NWAkron]

6 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Zips basketball fandom has passed through denial and bargaining, and are most of the way through anger.  Depression and acceptance ahead.

Not really.

[tpsjugglerdude]

At least he won't have to play his brother 1-3 times a year. 

[Rufus]

As a Bobcats lifer, all I can say is I/we know the feeling. Groce being wildly successful from Day 1 at Akron unfortunately puts the writing on the wall that he will be hired away. 

[ewbrooman1]

I have no idea whether Ford would be a good choice or not. He's never been a head coach. See Coleman Crawford. 😬

[blueandgold]

3 minutes ago, ewbrooman1 said:

I have no idea whether Ford would be a good choice or not. He's never been a head coach. See Coleman Crawford. 😬

Thanks for the reminder. I try to forget. 🤢

[NWAkron]

4 minutes ago, ewbrooman1 said:

I have no idea whether Ford would be a good choice or not. He's never been a head coach. See Coleman Crawford. 😬

who?

[Zip Watcher]

2 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

I wish JG well in his new endeavor. We survived Dambrots departure. We will survive this one too.

Agree wholeheartedly with my guy @Hilltopper.  Both have been fantastic stewards of our favorite program.  Appreciation is my first and last instinct here.

 

IMHO, program maintenance should not be the goal of the upcoming hire.  

While I understand the desire for rapid resolution and continuity, now might also be the time to really examine the opportunity to adjust the approach so as to break through the NCAA "ceiling."  We wouldn't have thought or been seriously motivated to make a change solely for this reason, but now that the program is facing the need to replace a coach, it's a chance to really define the goals for the next regime.

After KD did the heavy lifting to make the program a leader in the MAC, JG further moved the the program to sustained conference dominance.  The Zips benefited from his experience at a High Major .. and how to beat High Major teams.  Miami has benefited from Steele's time at a High Major. 

 

This is a time to evaluate what the program needs to keep ascending.  For me, this means a coach with High Major experience.  If they've also had success at a mid-major, that's a bonus.

 

Not the only coach that would fit the bill, but I think we should make a few calls ...

 

 

[ewbrooman1]

7 minutes ago, Zip Watcher said:

Agree wholeheartedly with my guy @Hilltopper.  Both have been fantastic stewards of our favorite program.  Appreciation is my first and last instinct here.

 

IMHO, program maintenance should not be the goal of the upcoming hire.  

While I understand the desire for rapid resolution and continuity, now might also be the time to really examine the opportunity to adjust the approach so as to break through the NCAA "ceiling."  We wouldn't have thought or been seriously motivated to make a change solely for this reason, but now that the program is facing the need to replace a coach, it's a chance to really define the goals for the next regime.

After KD did the heavy lifting to make the program a leader in the MAC, JG further moved the the program to sustained conference dominance.  The Zips benefited from his experience at a High Major .. and how to beat High Major teams.  Miami has benefited from Steele's time at a High Major. 

 

This is a time to evaluate what the program needs to keep ascending.  For me, this means a coach with High Major experience.  If they've also had success at a mid-major, that's a bonus.

 

Not the only coach that would fit the bill, but I think we should make a few calls ...

 

 

Ugh 

[ZippyRulz]

AFAIC, make Bud the HC and GM. He can hire assistants to do the actual coaching.

 

[Zippy87]

5 minutes ago, Zip Watcher said:

Agree wholeheartedly with my guy @Hilltopper.  Both have been fantastic stewards of our favorite program.  Appreciation is my first and last instinct here.

 

IMHO, program maintenance should not be the goal of the upcoming hire.  

While I understand the desire for rapid resolution and continuity, now might also be the time to really examine the opportunity to adjust the approach so as to break through the NCAA "ceiling."  We wouldn't have thought or been seriously motivated to make a change solely for this reason, but now that the program is facing the need to replace a coach, it's a chance to really define the goals for the next regime.

After KD did the heavy lifting to make the program a leader in the MAC, JG further moved the the program to sustained conference dominance.  The Zips benefited from his experience at a High Major .. and how to beat High Major teams.  Miami has benefited from Steele's time at a High Major. 

 

This is a time to evaluate what the program needs to keep ascending.  For me, this means a coach with High Major experience.  If they've also had success at a mid-major, that's a bonus.

 

Not the only coach that would fit the bill, but I think we should make a few calls ...

 

 

 

Which high-major teams did we beat during the JG Era? 

 

Personally, and I can't speak for others, I'm OK with being a program that is at or near the top of the MAC every year. A tourney win would be incredible and while I don't agree with people who say it isn't possible anymore, I do think it is far less likely than the pre-NIL era of college basketball. Being one of the last two teams left standing in Cleveland on Saturday night is still a thrill to me, and I think turning the program over to Ford - if he wants it - may be the best way to do that. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 minute ago, Hilltopper said:

I wish JG well in his new endeavor. We survived Dambrots departure. We will survive this one too.

 

This feels like a rare opportunity for all parties to elevate. Groce gets what he wants, Dustin gets his shot, and Akron can possibly take another step forward.