The University of Akron head men’s basketball coach John Groce agreed to a contract extension, keeping him at the helm of the Zips basketball program through 2026, pending the Board of Trustees approval, Director of Athletics Larry Williams announced on Tuesday.
“John Groce is a uniquely talented leader who has done and will continue to do a remarkable job with the The University of Akron basketball program,” Director of Athletics Larry Williams said.
“I am delighted to know that Coach Groce will be with us for the foreseeable future,” University of Akron President Gary L. Miller said. “He is not only a great basketball coach but also a university team player, a mentor to many student athletes and a great teacher. I look forward to working with him in the future to advance the mission of the University.”
John Groce completed his fourth season at Akron and became the Akron Zips 22nd head coach on April 6, 2017. At Akron, Groce has led the Zips to a 2020 regular season championship and matched the best regular season record in program history at 24-7. He led the Zips to four consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournaments, earning the No. 1 seed in 2020 – the 2020 MAC Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Groce has posted a 70-49 overall record at Akron, including a 39-15 mark over the last two seasons. In league play the Zips are 40-32 under Groce with a 26-10 MAC record the last two years.
“I would like to thank the Board of Trustees, President Gary Miller and Director of Athletics Larry Williams for the commitment they have made to our program,” Groce said. “I often say “It Takes a Village” and this extension is really a reflection of the outstanding job our student-athletes, staff and support staff have done over the last four years. We have a lot of positive momentum and are excited for the opportunity to add to that moving forward. Our daily focus and attention continues to be on helping the University, athletic department and men’s basketball program strive for excellence. We are beyond excited to work with our community, University, alumni, fans and our student-athletes to make that happen.”
During his 25-year coaching career, he has helped coach teams to 18 postseason appearances in 23 opportunities, including six regular season conference championships, seven conference tournament championships, a National Runner-up, an Elite 8, an NCAA Sweet 16 and six Round of 32 appearances. Over 25 years his teams have not only shown consistent success on the court but have demonstrated sustained excellence in the classroom as well.
Prior to joining the Zips, Groce was head men’s basketball coach at the University of Illinois for five seasons. During his tenure at Illinois, he led the Illini to an average of 19 wins per season along with postseason appearances in four of his five years in Champaign, owning a 95-75 record.
He arrived at Illinois after four seasons as head coach at Ohio University, where he led the Bobcats to an 85-56 overall record as well as Mid-American Conference Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2012.
Akron Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Groce Agrees to Contract Extension through 2026
