University of Akron President Matthew J. Wilson and Director of Athletics Larry Williams announced on April 5 that John Groce has been selected as the Zips’ next men’s basketball head coach, pending formal approval from the University’s Board of Trustees.
Leading his teams to 19 postseason appearances, including two Mid-American Conference championships and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, Groce becomes the 22nd head coach of Akron men’s basketball. He takes over a Zips’ team that posted a school record 27 wins in 2016-17 and made its 13th postseason appearance in Akron’s Division I era.
Groce will be introduced to the campus and community during a news conference on Thursday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at the Student Union.
“From the enviable position of much sustained success in our men’s basketball program, we concentrated our search on finding a Division I coach with a proven track record of excellence, winning, and post-season appearances, combined with a focus on academics and discipline. Coach Groce has that combination.” Williams said. “We’re extraordinarily pleased that he will be bringing his impressive experience and background to our Zips basketball program.”
“Coach Groce has the commitment to excellence that has been instilled in our program, and I am confident that he will continue to build on that core and achieve even greater successes in the years ahead,” President Wilson stated. “He is passionate about winning the right way, and I know our student-athletes and UA fans and supporters will be excited to see his energy, enthusiasm, and coaching skill on our side of the court.”
For the last five years, Groce was head men’s basketball coach at the University of Illinois, compiling a 95-75 overall record, earning three postseason appearances, including an NCAA berth his first season.
From 2008 to 2012, he led the Ohio Bobcats to the NCAA tournament twice, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2012, and two Mid-American Conference championships. His overall record at OU was 85-56.
Groce’s Ohio connections are strong, as he was assistant coach at Xavier (2001-04) and then assistant head coach at Ohio State (2004-06), becoming associate head coach (2006-08). He previously was an assistant coach at Butler (2000-01), assistant coach at North Carolina State (1996-00), and assistant coach at his alma mater Taylor University (1993-96).
Groce, 45, earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Taylor in 1994. He and his wife, Allison, have two sons, Conner and Camden, and a daughter, Cate.
http://gozips.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170405lmyk8i
