dirtyolcrowe Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Simply put. Who may come to Groce with an offer? personally I don’t think there is any scenario where he would leave this year but you never know. would he jump to the Big Ten again or go A10 or Big East. i really don’t see a conference better than the MAC outside of the power 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 He’s been there done that (and I think has made similar comments), has all the money he or his kids should ever need, and has a good thing going where he is. I think it would be a tough decision to leave and hope he doesn’t. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egregiousbob Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I think this is the year he takes one more swing at the "big time" and then retires with millions if it doesn't pan out. Dustin Ford is the next HC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipsBBjunkie Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Paid access only but I’m sure this emphasizes how happy he is here. I don’t see him even exploring other offers with the backing he has from Wentz. Would have to start all over somewhere else without the trusted circle he has here. Why even put doubt in current team or recruits minds. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 My personal, non educated, opinion is he wouldn't just leave for any job. He could probably already have gotten a MVC or A10 job if he wanted. It would probably an attractive offer from an attractive school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 (edited) I don't think he will leave. He's well-paid, leads the best program in the MAC, has wonderful support from donors, and will have a loaded senior class next year. I do hope people realize how lucky we are, though. To have a legendary coach in Keith Dambrot for 13 years and then immediately shift to another legendary coach in John Groce for 8 years now and counting? That type of longevity - while winning - just doesn't happen often at the mid-major level. If either guy didn't have that loyalty and bring that longevity, we could have very easily become what Buffalo is now. Edited March 10 by Zippy87 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 It would have to be a very attractive program for him to leave. He's not leaving for a Duquesne like KD, or a Bradley like Geno Ford. It would have to be an SEC, Big 10 or ACC program with a solid base with the potential to succeed, and even then I think it would be tough for him. I also think that if he did it would be a program where he could offer Dustin big money to follow him. I think Dustin has an equal chance of drawing interest from a smaller program or a struggling D1 program. It's all very scary as UA's chances of hitting on 3 in a row are slim. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said: It would have to be a very attractive program for him to leave. He's not leaving for a Duquesne like KD, or a Bradley like Geno Ford. It would have to be an SEC, Big 10 or ACC program with a solid base with the potential to succeed, and even then I think it would be tough for him. I also think that if he did it would be a program where he could offer Dustin big money to follow him. I think Dustin has an equal chance of drawing interest from a smaller program or a struggling D1 program. It's all very scary as UA's chances of hitting on 3 in a row are slim. I agree with this. Obviously with KD, there were personal reasons for Duquesne with his dad playing there. I also think Athletics post-Guthrie are much more supportive than what Groce had when he first arrived or KD had toward the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 No. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Good vibes only at this time please 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyRulz Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I think Bud gives us stability, thankfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I don't know what he'll do, but Akron is a great place for him at this point in his life. He has almost 20 years in the Ohio retirement system and needs some years of service to maximize retirement benefits. I've heard, but don't know for sure, this pays an average of your three highest paid years in retirement. His lives in a very good public school system for his kid and one isn't a teenager yet. Most of all, he seems happy and a different job may equate to misery. Staying at Akron is a no brainer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 My mother always taught me if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all. I hope UA provides him with the support he needs to continue to run a successful MAC program. I personally hope he stays. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 Hilltopper isn't giving me a warm and fuzzy feeling 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 9 Report Share Posted March 9 I get that it's a business, but I'd be stunned to see Groce leave with 6 seniors expected back next year from a really good team. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoopsFan03 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 I'm a little worried about this. If NC State comes calling I don't know how he says no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 9 hours ago, Zippy87 said: I don't think I will leave. Personally, I'm glad you're staying. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1981 grad Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 He did it once and he took a lot of abuse and got canned. Why put yourself and your family through that again. Nothing good came of it. Correction: Something good did come of it: This board gained Illini Zip. 3 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipsBBjunkie Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 7 hours ago, HoopsFan03 said: I'm a little worried about this. If NC State comes calling I don't know how he says no. They just fired a coach who went to the Final Four the year before … yikes! That has run the other way written all over it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csims0917 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 I'll feel 100% safe that Groce is staying if we announce a JAR renovation. However I think it'll be hard for him to not run this team back if he gets the chance to retain the majority of this team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 9 hours ago, HoopsFan03 said: I'm a little worried about this. If NC State comes calling I don't know how he says no. NC State is a graveyard of coaches for any meaningful sport. That pack of rednecks has no idea how to win. The Final Four run last year was a fluke. Once Steve Forbes completes another late season collapse at Wake Forest, they should can him. Wake Forest is a better job than NC State. JG could actually get the support he would need there and have a longer runway to get the team in the condition he would want. The problem JG has is he is a good person. It takes a certain high level of sleaze to win with NIL at the P4 level and I don't think he has it. My money is on him staying. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 1 hour ago, ZipsBBjunkie said: They just fired a coach who went to the Final Four the year before … yikes! That has run the other way written all over it. That was my initial thoughts when I read the previous comment as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 20 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: That was my initial thoughts when I read the previous comment as well. Which only confirms that this thread and some comments are a trolling exercise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 10 hours ago, HoopsFan03 said: I'm a little worried about this. If NC State comes calling I don't know how he says no. I think the bigger quandary would be choosing the expletive to insert before "no." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 Nobody thought KD would ever leave and then it happened and he was about as Akron as they come. Groce has a son on the team and probably wants his family to stay put. I do think UA needs to put some serious money into the JAR if they want to keep him around. The new practice facility is a big step in the right direction. But we can only ignore the big ugly elephant in the room long enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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