Akron Zips basketball

Akron Zips basketball history

University of Akron (Akron, OH)
James A. Rhodes Arena, aka The JAR
Mid-American Conference (MAC)

Current head coach: John Groce (2017-)

  • Assoc. HC: Dustin Ford (2017-)
  • Asst: Rob Fulford (2017-)
  • Asst: Robby Pridgen (2017-)
  • DBO: Jon Ekey (2022-)

Post-Season:

  • National Championships:  0
  • Final Four Appearances:  0
  • Sweet Sixteen Appearances:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  6  (1986, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024)
  • NCAAT Overall Record:  0-6
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  7  (1987, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2017)
  • NIT Overall Record:  3-7
  • CIT Appearances:  1  (2014)
  • CIT Overall Record:  0-1
  • NCAA Division II National Championships:  0  (Runner-up in 1964, 1972)   
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances:  9  (1958, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Final Four:  3  (1964, 1966, 1972)
  • NCAA Division II Tournament Overall Record:  21-9
  • NAIA Tournament Appearances:  1  (1943)
  • NAIA Tournament Overall Record:  0-1

Conference Titles (OAC, Ohio Valley, Summit, MAC):

Award Winners:




Akron head coaches:

Coach Tenure Record Conf. Titles NCAA Apps. Nat. Champ
John Groce 2017-Pres 140-81 1 2 0
Keith Dambrot 2004-17 305-139 6 3 0
Dan Hipsher 1995-2004 112-137 1 0 0
Coleman Crawford 1989-95 71-91 0 0 0
Bob Huggins 1984-89 97-46 1 1 0
Bob Rupert 1980-84 37-71 0 0 0
Ken Cunningham 1976-80 42-61 0 0 0
Alex Adams 1975-76 10-14 0 0 0
Wyatt Webb 1968-75 126-60 0 4^ 0
Tony Laterza 1959-68 178-59 2^ 4^ 0
Russell Beichly 1940-59 288-144 3^ 2^ 0
Thomas Dowler 1939-40 9-14 0 0 0
Paul Bixler 1936-39 31-15 0 0 0
Howard “Red” Blair 1927-36 89-40 1^
Fred Sefton 1915-24, 25-27 103-42 2^
James Coleman 1924-25 8-5 0
Frank Haggerty 1910-15 30-23
Clarence Weed 1909-10 5-3
Walter East 1908-09 5-7
Dr. Dwight Bradley 1908 1-0
Earl Williams 1904-08 23-20
no coach 1901-04 9-13

Key: Conf. Titles= Regular Season only, NCAA Apps= NCAA Tournament Appearances, Nat. Champ= NCAA Tournament Champions

^ These conference titles and tournament appearances came when the Akron program was at the Division II level; Akron moved up to Division I prior to the 1980-81 season

NOTE: Overall program records on this page do not include anything later vacated by the NCAA.