John Groce Is Leaving Akron After 9 Years, and Charleston Just Got One of Mid-Major Basketball's Best

John Groce is done in Akron. The Cougars just hired him Monday, and if you have been paying attention to college basketball over the last half decade, you know exactly why Charleston is celebrating right now. This guy has been one of the most successful mid-major coaches in America, and the mid-Atlantic is about to feel it.

The Resume That Made This Happen

Groce spent nine seasons building something real at Akron, and the numbers back it up. Over the past five years, he led the Zips to four NCAA tournament berths. Four. Not bad for a mid-major program. In that same stretch, he went 127-45 overall and put together a ridiculous 57-win record over the last two seasons alone, going 34-2 against MAC opponents. Even more insane: Groce is 13-1 in conference tournament games with four championships in those five years. He won a regular-season title in 2020 before the pandemic canceled the conference tournament, and he claimed another regular-season title in that five-year window.

Before Akron: Illinois, Ohio, and a Coaching Pedigree

Before he took over for Keith Dambrot at Akron in 2017, Groce was the head coach at Illinois for five seasons. He won 20 games three times there and made the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2013, his first season with the Illini. Before that, he spent four seasons at Ohio from 2008 to 2012, bringing the Bobcats to a pair of NCAA tournaments. Early in his coaching career, he worked on staffs at NC State, Butler, Xavier, and Ohio State, the last three under legendary coach Thad Matta.

What Charleston Is Getting

Athletic director Matt Roberts put it perfectly in his statement: "John Groce is one of the most decorated Head Coaches in the country. His leadership of men and his passion for people is what impresses us the most." Groce is bringing his wife Allison and their three children, Conner, Camden, and Cate, to Charleston. He informed his Akron team of his departure Monday.

Groce replaces Chris Mack, who left for South Florida last week. The five-year contract is locked in. Charleston just added one of the best coaches in the mid-major space, and the Cougars are ready to compete.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.