John Groce

John Groce (born September 7, 1971)

Current position: Head men’s basketball coach
Current team: Akron Zips
Current conference: Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC)
Ohio record: 85-56 (.603)
Illinois record: 95-75 (.559)
Akron record: 140-81 (.633)
Overall record: 322-213 (.602)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  5  (2010, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2024)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  1  (2012)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  3  (2014, 2015, 2017)
  • CIT Appearances:  1  (2011)
  • MAC Regular Season Champion 1  (2020)
  • MAC Tournament Champion(2010, 2012, 2022, 2024)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2017-present Akron
2012-2017 Illinois
2008-2012 Ohio
2004-2008 Ohio State (asst)
2001-2004 Xavier (asst)
2000-2001 Butler (asst)
1996-2000 NC State (asst)
1993-1996 Taylor (asst)

John Groce Facts

  • John Gordon Groce
  • Born September 7, 1971
  • Hometown: Muncie, Indiana
  • Alma Mater: Taylor University (1994)
  • Played four seasons for the Taylor Trojans before spending two seasons there as an assistant coach
  • Served as an assistant under Herb Sendek at NC State for four seasons
  • Was as assistant under Thad Matta for eight total seasons (one at Butler, three at Xavier and four at Ohio State)
  • In four seasons as the head coach at Ohio, won two MAC Tournament titles and earned two trips to the NCAA Tournament
    • The Bobcats reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2012
  • Spent five years as the head coach at Illinois, going to one NCAA Tournament and three NITs
  • Became the new head coach at Akron a month later, returning to the MAC and the state of Ohio
  • Along with his wife, Allison, has two sons and one daughter
    • Groce is the brother of long-time Xavier assistant and former head coach Travis Steele

John Groce Coaching Tree