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

[kreed5120]

29 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Not sure that's true.

 

I agree if rumors are true that CoC plan to have a $2-$3 million NIL spend I'm not sure how Akron could come up with an extra $1-$2 million when we're already too poor to afford a training table. 

 

If Akron wants to avoid falling further behind we will need to foster better relationships with local businesses. Not sure how it can be done, but that will take time.

[GP1]

3 hours ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I'm w/ you on this.  I could see Butler, but CoC is a puzzling.  

Maybe it's not just about the job. 

[Zip Watcher]

13 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I feel people here were generally very happy when Groce was hired. Perhaps that's revisionist history. Maybe others can revive that thread. I don't have the energy to find it and look.

 

If Hurley is hired I'm not getting season tickets.

Not talking about when he was hired here.  Agree it was highly positive.

 

My comment was about our perspective when he was patrolling the sidelines of OU.  In my memory, Charlie Coles was pretty much the only opposing coach that we didn't have healthy dislike for.  People mature over the years.

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 minute ago, Zip Watcher said:

People mature over the years.

 

Except for the Hurleys. 

 

[GP1]

2 hours ago, Zip Watcher said:

 

 

 

I don't think a young Gerry Faust is the answer. 

[tomzip]

JG sure gets an upgrade on facilities compared to the high school gym that is the JAR.

[GP1]

2 hours 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 ...

 

 

In all seriousness, I agree. Fans are too quick to panic when there is turnover. Honestly, I've been guilty of it in the past.

 

Again, my experience following a well run athletic department is Wake Forest. When I saw Dave Clawson getting hired after Grobe around 10 years ago, I thought they were doomed because I simply didn't know who he was or much about him. As it turned out, he was the right guy, at the right place, at the right time. When they hired Jake Dickert I thought they were screwed for the same reasons and he won 9 games in his first season and were better than the last two years of Clawson. He was the right guy at the right place at the right time. 

 

Wake finds football coaches who are right for Wake Forest. Akron has successfully found two consecutive successful coaches in a row who were the right guys for Akron at the right time. At some point, we have to admit that the culture around Akron basketball is a good one. Culture matters and leads to good decisions. In recent years, Akron has through the TP and NIL brought in high quality players and people. Akron isn't desperate and doesn't need to abandon this cultural foundation. 

 

The question isn't about who is out there to hire. The question revolves around who is out there and who is a good fit for Akron.  There are many good coaches. We need to find the best one for Akron. 

[kreed5120]

2 minutes ago, GP1 said:

In all seriousness, I agree. Fans are too quick to panic when there is turnover. Honestly, I've been guilty of it in the past.

 

Again, my experience following a well run athletic department is Wake Forest. When I saw Dave Clawson getting hired after Grobe around 10 years ago, I thought they were doomed because I simply didn't know who he was or much about him. As it turned out, he was the right guy, at the right place, at the right time. When they hired Jake Dickert I thought they were screwed for the same reasons and he won 9 games in his first season and were better than the last two years of Clawson. He was the right guy at the right place at the right time. 

 

Wake finds football coaches who are right for Wake Forest. Akron has successfully found two consecutive successful coaches in a row who were the right guys for Akron at the right time. At some point, we have to admit that the culture around Akron basketball is a good one. Culture matters and leads to good decisions. In recent years, Akron has through the TP and NIL brought in high quality players and people. Akron isn't desperate and doesn't need to abandon this cultural foundation. 

 

The question isn't about who is out there to hire. The question revolves around who is out there and who is a good fit for Akron.  There are many good coaches. We need to find the best one for Akron. 

Out of likes, but +1

[72 Roo]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

I'd prefer for the program I love not to be coached by an angry 7 year old.

If we got Hurley you can kiss any thought of an enduring, positive culture goodbye.

[clarkwgriswold]

I just got an email from Goodrich with no body in the email.  Dustin it is.

Edited 3 hours ago by clarkwgriswold

[Let'sGoZips94]

Tick tick @Illini Zip. Waiting on your announcement. 😉

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Tick tick @Illini Zip. Waiting on your announcement. 😉

 

Probably trying to create bidding war with CoC fanbase to see who can offer the most karma.

[clarkwgriswold]

If @Illini Zipflips to CofC I am going to demand that my Groce bobblehead be returned!

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Probably trying to create bidding war with CoC fanbase to see who can offer the most karma.

 

If they had a board with a higher reaction limit, that might be able to sway him. 

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

If they had a board with a higher reaction limit, that might be able to sway him. 

😂

 

Edit: had to leave this because I'm coincidentally out of reactions.

Edited 3 hours ago by kreed5120

[mrelegazna]

54 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Wake finds football coaches who are right for Wake Forest. Akron has successfully found two consecutive successful coaches in a row who were the right guys for Akron at the right time. At some point, we have to admit that the culture around Akron basketball is a good one. Culture matters and leads to good decisions.

 

 

I wish I could be this optimistic.  

The thing about "culture" as you describe it, is it not inherent. It takes work to not just build it, but maintain it. 

I am reminded of when I had a job as an opinion pollster for political candidates (Peter Hart Research, to be exact, who used to operate a phone bank in the Springfield/Lakemore area. I worked there).  

One question that we asked people a lot was this: Who does a better job of representing Hoosier values (if working on a statewide Indiana race in this example)? Candidate A or Candidate B?

That question always rankled me. WTF are Hoosier values?  It's a meaningless phrase, an unholy alliance of marketing and politicking. It's not a thing. You think humility, community, hard work, whatever the F, are unique to being Indianan? Almost everyone thinks of their state/community/tribe/however-you-want-to-demographic-it in this way!

 

We have been very, VERY fortunate to have had as much success as we had under Dambrot and Groce.  But there's nothing in the air that made those things happen.  Akron is not special - no place is in and of itself, really, is my point.  We have no inherent advantages. It worked because we had two damn good coaches. And if we don't hire a damn good coach to replace Groce, there's no parachute that prevents us from becoming a directional Michigan on the basketball court.  

I'm not all gloom and doom here.  Obviously, if Ford becomes the new coach, that will help with stability, continuity, and make us less likely to crater.  Even if we have a full on regime change, that doesn't mean it will fail.  But let's not kid ourselves into thinking there's something in the water that makes "the culture around Akron basketball is a good one" and makes us immune from crashing out. Culture didn't build our success, people did.  


 

 

 

[Illini Zip]

2 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

If they had a board with a higher reaction limit, that might be able to sway him. 

I do like using my likes. 👍 

[Let'sGoZips94]

7 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

😂

 

Edit: had to leave this because I'm coincidentally out of reactions.

 

Same. 

 

@Captain Kangaroo Can we please rid the site of a reactions limit? Haha

[clarkwgriswold]

I just had to do that.

[GP1]

54 minutes ago, mrelegazna said:

 

I wish I could be this optimistic.  

The thing about "culture" as you describe it, is it not inherent. It takes work to not just build it, but maintain it. 

I am reminded of when I had a job as an opinion pollster for political candidates (Peter Hart Research, to be exact, who used to operate a phone bank in the Springfield/Lakemore area. I worked there).  

One question that we asked people a lot was this: Who does a better job of representing Hoosier values (if working on a statewide Indiana race in this example)? Candidate A or Candidate B?

That question always rankled me. WTF are Hoosier values?  It's a meaningless phrase, an unholy alliance of marketing and politicking. It's not a thing. You think humility, community, hard work, whatever the F, are unique to being Indianan? Almost everyone thinks of their state/community/tribe/however-you-want-to-demographic-it in this way!

 

We have been very, VERY fortunate to have had as much success as we had under Dambrot and Groce.  But there's nothing in the air that made those things happen.  Akron is not special - no place is in and of itself, really, is my point.  We have no inherent advantages. It worked because we had two damn good coaches. And if we don't hire a damn good coach to replace Groce, there's no parachute that prevents us from becoming a directional Michigan on the basketball court.  

I'm not all gloom and doom here.  Obviously, if Ford becomes the new coach, that will help with stability, continuity, and make us less likely to crater.  Even if we have a full on regime change, that doesn't mean it will fail.  But let's not kid ourselves into thinking there's something in the water that makes "the culture around Akron basketball is a good one" and makes us immune from crashing out. Culture didn't build our success, people did.  


 

 

 

Akron is in a great spot to be aggressive, or not. The website shows Ford as the Head Coach. Akron is the gold standard for MAC basketball and I'm not sure a career assistant is the right person. 

[lance99]

6 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Akron is in a great spot to be aggressive, or not. The website shows Ford as the Head Coach. Akron is the gold standard for MAC basketball and I'm not sure a career assistant is the right person. 

 

While it remains to be seen on what Ford does as a Coach. We, as Fans have to look what he does off the Court in the Off Season and what he does putting together as a Team First and how he Coaches during the Season(At Least Three at Min).

[UAZipster0305]

13 minutes ago, GP1 said:

Akron is in a great spot to be aggressive, or not. The website shows Ford as the Head Coach. Akron is the gold standard for MAC basketball and I'm not sure a career assistant is the right person. 

 

I thought the same thing of Embick for men's soccer. I thought they should've hired UA alum and highly successful Coastal Carolina coach, Shaun Docking. In any case, it played out the way it did, and Embick has done an amazing job.

 

I hope Dustin Ford is the right assistant in the same way Embick was.

[mrelegazna]

We know from earlier in the thread he has LCJ's endorsement.  If he, a few years removed from the program, basically says "Hey Dustin Ford should get this job," that's pretty telling and a pretty meaningful endorsement. Clearly Ford had an impact on maybe a top 10 or 20 all-time Zip.

The "career assistant coach" thing doesn't bother me.  Everyone has to start off and put in years as an assistant coach, obviously. There's no reason to think "He's been an assistant coach for too long, therefore he can't be a good head coach."

 

 

[1981 grad]

I know there are a few people on this board with some inside information.  I would like to know why Groce made the decision to leave Akron which is at best is a lateral move.  Was it for more money, more money for players, a realization that he could not win a tourney game coaching Akron?  Or was it to give Ford an opportunity to coach and move into the limelight.  Just curious to see why Groce made the move since he always seemed to like the area and program.   

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

I know there are a few people on this board with some inside information.  I would like to know why Groce made the decision to leave Akron which is at best is a lateral move.  Was it for more money, more money for players, a realization that he could not win a tourney game coaching Akron?  Or was it to give Ford an opportunity to coach and move into the limelight.  Just curious to see why Groce made the move since he always seemed to like the area and program.   

 

I'm not privy to any inside knowledge, but I saw this post by Sam Amico on 330togo facebook page. I'm thinking Utah was maybe Utah State as that Utah job was never open.