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John Groce (HC Akron Zips)

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http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/BKC-HAUGH-COLUMN_7630419/BKC-HAUGH-COLUMN_7630419/

David Haugh: Illinois should know its place as coaches say no

When hotshot mid-major coaches Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens turned down Illinois, it provided a stark reminder of how good the job in Champaign is - or isn't - in today's college basketball world.

But perhaps the most sobering measure of the position's diminished stature came in the last 48 hours as Ohio coach John Groce exercised every ounce of leverage Illinois delivered at his doorstep.

When a 40-year-old Mid-American Conference coach making $307,985 hedges at taking over a once-proud Big Ten program and won't agree to do so until his considerable demands are met, it hardly labels Illinois an elite job.

If people still were wondering if Illinois was a destination job, now they know. Coaches don?t tiptoe to destination jobs. They run. Their hearts set the pace for their heads. They make plans, not conditions.

The Illinois plane had filed a flight plan at noon Tuesday scheduled to go to Athens, Ohio, but never left the runway after the trip was canceled because the tenor of negotiations changed, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks. Somewhere, Michael McCaskey hated being reminded of Dave McGinnis again.

Groce's 11th-hour power play says Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas got what he deserved in a clumsy search that began nearly three weeks ago. It underscores how badly Thomas needed Groce to say yes - a fact apparently not lost on Groce, who already displayed a knack for making shrewd decisions late in the game.

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2pm Press Conference scheduled at Illinois to announce their new Men's Basketball Coach.


Thank you John Groce for what you have done for Ohio basketball. The sweet sixteen run and almost beating UNC was very fun to watch. Good luck at Illinois, and hope you finish 2nd to Ohio State every year :wink:
 
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Illinois should know its place

Clumsy firing of 1 coach and messy search for another proves it's not among elite as it aspires

When hotshot mid-major coaches Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens turned down Illinois, it provided a stark reminder of how good the job in Champaign is - or isn't - in today's college basketball world.

But perhaps the most sobering measure of the position's diminished stature came in the last 48 hours as Ohio coach John Groce exercised every ounce of leverage Illinois delivered at his doorstep before finally coming to terms.

When a 40-year-old Mid-American Conference coach making $307,985 hedges at taking over a once-proud Big Ten program and won't agree to do so until his considerable demands are met, it hardly labels Illinois an elite job.

If people still were wondering if Illinois was a destination job, now they know. Coaches don't tiptoe to destination jobs. They run. Their hearts set the pace for their heads. They make plans, not conditions.

.../snip/...
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Wring every last drop out of them you can Jim!
 
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LitlBuck;2134121; said:
They probably don't even realize it at this point but long-term they might have gotten the better coach/recruiter out of the bunch and who is Jim:huh:
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LOL The co-worker I was half listening to while I was typing the post. Be glad my freudian didn't slip all the way to "shut up Jim". :rofl:
 
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Klee: Q&A with new coach Groce
Sat, 04/07/2012
The News-Gazette

Home ? Sports ? Illini Sports ? Men's Basketball
Klee: Q&A with new coach Groce
Sat, 04/07/2012

Evan Turner told us you were the "offensive coordinator" at Ohio State. What are your coaching influences on the offensive side?

A little bit from each guy. But the biggest thing that influenced me offensively was in '06-07 we had Greg Oden. You probably remember he broke his hand. So Oden became weak-hand dominant, if that makes sense, instead of strong hand. At that point we felt he was going to be out for 10 games (to start the season). So we traveled out to see Mike D'Antoni and meet with (the Phoenix Suns coach). And I'm one of those guys that always wants to play fast with great spacing and speed. So I've gotten to where I'm very convicted to play that way. I think that style fits me.

So I would say Mike D'Antoni, for sure. And I've learned how to adapt that system. You'd be foolish to play that way with Greg Oden. You want to take advantage of having Oden in the middle. And then at Ohio we had a preseason Player of the Year candidate in (6-foot-6 forward) Jerome Tillman. He had good size relative to our league. So we wanted to utilize those guys, as well, in what we do. But I think probably more than anybody ? it would be D'Antoni, offensively. And a little (Arizona coach) Sean Miller, offensively. Even Thad (Matta), offensively, in terms of conceptually offensively. But I think the one people would be surprised by is D'Antoni, offensively. He's had an impact on my coaching philosophy, for sure.

Thad Matta has (beaten) Illinois badly. He's 12-3 against Illinois. Given your friendship, how will it be for you to coach against him?

I think once the ball tips, basketball is basketball. It becomes a game at that point. He's trying to beat our butt, and we're trying to beat his. For those 40 minutes, that's all that matters. Obviously he and I have a great friendship. And I wouldn't have this opportunity without him. But he's a competitive guy. I'm a competitive guy. I'm sure when the time comes and we play against each other, I'm sure all the friendship and mentor stuff will be thrown out the window.

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http://www.illinihq.com/sports/illini-sports/mens-basketball/2012-04-07/klee-qa-new-coach-groce.html
 
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Groce vs. Matta: 'Sibling' rivalry
Fri, 01/04/2013 | Marcus Jackson

CHAMPAIGN ? In January 2006, Ohio State coach Thad Matta did the right thing and gave assistant John Groce an option: accompany the Buckeyes to Iowa for a Big Ten matchup against the Hawkeyes or stay in Columbus with wife Allison, who was due to give birth to the couple?s first child on the day of the game.

?John said, ?No, no, no, I?m making the trip,? ? Allison Groce recalled. ?Thad was kind of like ?Thank God.? He was hoping John would say that.?
The situation worked out for all involved. Allison was induced a few days early and gave birth to Conner while John watched film of Iowa on his laptop in the delivery room.

?He always gets out of the hard stuff,? Allison said.

Truth is, Groce could have skipped the game and Matta would have been perfectly fine with the decision. ?He knows how to treat people,? Allison said.

Matta and Groce are close. Their families are close.

The two first met when Groce was a prep star playing at Danville (Ind.) High for Todd Lickliter while Matta was starring collegiately at nearby Butler. Groce was an assistant coach to Matta for eight years at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State.

?They worked together so long that they?re almost like brothers,? Allison Groce said.

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http://www.illinihq.com/sports/illi...013-01-04/groce-vs-matta-sibling-rivalry.html
 
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I knew the day we lost him to OU he was going to be really good. Going forward Matta may have to reinvent himself from time to time against Groce considering the familiarity. The guy can flat out coach.
 
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Groce took an Illinois team that lost their lotto pick big man from a Weber-coached team that didn't even make the NIT to a team that went to the NCAA tourney and won a game, and was right there with #2 seed Miami at the end. Weber, on the other hand, did not win a game in the tourney for K-State in spite of having a #4 seed with perhaps the most talented team he will ever have at K-State. Groce already won as many games against the #1 team in the country as Weber did at IL and as many NCAA tourney games as Weber won in his last six seasons. Definitely a big upgrade for Illinois.
 
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Groce is one hell of a good coach. His OU team last year, with former Buckeye Walter Offut, Jr., was a blast to watch. He will have a lot of talent to replace this offseason, but if my kid were a big time basketball player, I'd want him playing for a coach like Groce.
 
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Loren Tate: Groce has put UI back on map
Thu, 09/19/2013

In the realm of bouncing and shooting an inflated leather spheroid, Jim Delany’s Big Ten Conference offered the NCAA’s strongest and deepest quintets in 2012-13.

Overtaking the Big East and basketball-wacky ACC, and leaving the Pac-12 and SEC far behind, the trio of Indiana, Michigan and Ohio State produced 29 or more wins, and Michigan State rattled off 27.

It seems somewhat strange, then, that recruiting has developed so slowly this fall.
You’d think elite athletes would jump on board left and right. These are, after all, quality educational institutions boasting large arenas and outstanding coaches.

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http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/...-19/loren-tate-groce-has-put-ui-back-map.html
 
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