View source for John Groce

{{Short description|American basketball coach (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = John Groce
| image = John Groce, Akron Zips MBB, February 2024.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Groce with [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron]] in 2024
| current_title = [[Head coach]]
| current_team = [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron]]
| current_conference = [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]]
| current_record = {{winpct|168|88|record=y}}
| contract = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|9|7}}
| birth_place = [[Muncie, Indiana]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1991–1994
| player_team1 = [[Taylor Trojans men's basketball|Taylor]]
| coach_years1 = 1993–1996
| coach_team1 = [[Taylor Trojans men's basketball|Taylor]] (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1996–2000
| coach_team2 = [[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]] (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 2000–2001
| coach_team3 = [[Butler Bulldogs men's basketball|Butler]] (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 2001–2004
| coach_team4 = [[Xavier Musketeers men's basketball|Xavier]] (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 2004–2008
| coach_team5 = [[Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball|Ohio State]] (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 2008–2012
| coach_team6 = [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio]]
| coach_years7 = 2012–2017
| coach_team7 = [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]]
| coach_team8 = [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron]]
| coach_years8 = 2017–present
| overall_record = {{winpct|348|219|record=y}}
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 4–6 ([[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I]])<br>3–3 ([[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]])<br>1–1 ([[CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT]])
| championships = 5 [[Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]] ([[2010 MAC men's basketball tournament|2010]], [[2012 MAC men's basketball tournament|2012]], [[2022 MAC men's basketball tournament|2022]], [[2024 MAC men's basketball tournament|2024]], [[2025 MAC men's basketball tournament|2025]])<br> 2 [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] regular season (2020, 2025)<br>[[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] East Division (2020)
| awards = [[Hugh Durham Award]] (2025)<br>2× [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] Coach of the Year (2020, 2025)
| coaching_records = 
}}

'''John Gordon Groce''' ({{IPAc-en|g|r|oʊ|s|}};<ref name=lucky>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story?id=7743011&_slug_=university-illinois-got-lucky-john-groce-hiring|title=Greenberg: Illinois got lucky with Groce hiring|date=March 27, 2012|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> born September 7, 1971) is an American [[college basketball]] coach, currently the [[head coach]] for the [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron Zips men's basketball team]]. Prior to coaching for Akron, he was the head coach at [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois]] and [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio]].

==Coaching career==

===Player and assistant coach===

Groce graduated from [[Taylor University]], an [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA Division II]] school in [[Upland, Indiana]], in 1994 and played basketball for the school while he was there.<ref>pg. 36 of the Summer 2007 edition of Taylor: A Magazine for Taylor University Alumni and Friends ISSN 1073-4376 "Coach Patterson used to tell me be the 'Big time' wherever you are...I'm not the guy who chases jobs. I feel fortunate to be at Ohio State. I love being here. We want to be the best we can every day."</ref> Groce started his coaching career as an assistant with his alma mater, [[Taylor University]], under Paul Patterson from 1993 to 1996. His next job was an assistant at [[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|North Carolina State]] under [[Herb Sendek]] from 1996 to 2000. He then moved on to [[Butler Bulldogs men's basketball|Butler]] as an assistant to [[Thad Matta]] and was there just one season (2000–01). When Matta accepted the head coaching position at [[Xavier Musketeers men's basketball|Xavier]], Groce went with him and served as an assistant from 2001 to 2004, before moving again with Matta when he was named as the head coach of [[Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball|Ohio State]]. He served as an assistant from 2004 to 2008.

===Ohio University===

Groce was named the head coach at Ohio University on June 27, 2008, replacing [[Tim O'Shea]], who resigned to take the head coach position at [[Bryant University]].<ref>[http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062708aab.html Groce Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at Ohio :: Becomes 16th head coach in program history<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2008-06-27-415636015_x.htm|title=Groce hired as men's basketball coach at Ohio U - USATODAY.com|website=usatoday30.usatoday.com|access-date=2017-07-10}}</ref>

In his [[2008–09 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|first year]], the Bobcats finished 7–9 in [[Mid-American Conference]] play and failed to qualify for postseason play. The team's overall record improved the [[2009–10 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|following year]], but the Bobcats finished with another 7–9 record. However, the Bobcats went on a run in the [[2010 MAC men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]], winning the championship as the No. 9 seed. As a result, the Bobcats received the conference's automatic bid to the [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. They received a No. 14 seed in the Midwest region and Groce led the Bobcats to an upset win over 3-seeded [[2009–10 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team|Georgetown]] in the First Round. They then lost in the Second Round to [[2009–10 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]].

In [[2010–11 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|2011]], the Bobcats increased their conference record to 9–7 and earned a bid to the [[2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT)]]. A first round victory over [[Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball|Marshall]] preceded a loss to [[East Tennessee State Buccaneers basketball|East Tennessee State]] in the CIT Quarterfinals.

In [[2011–12 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|2012]], Groce led the Bobcats to an 11–5 conference record and another [[2012 MAC men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]] championship. As the conference's automatic bid to the [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], the Bobcats received a No. 13 seed. In the Tournament, Ohio defeated No. 4-seeded [[2011–12 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]] and No. 12-seeded [[2011–12 South Florida Bulls men's basketball team|South Florida]] to earn a trip to the Sweet Sixteen, Ohio's first trip to the Sweet Sixteen since [[1964 NCAA University Division basketball tournament|1964]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/marchmadness/index.ssf/2012/03/ohios_still_dancing_bobcats_ad.html|title=Ohio's still dancing! Bobcats advance to Sweet 16 with 62–56 victory over South Florida|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2017-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref>  In the Sweet Sixteen, they pushed No. 1-seed [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] to overtime before losing 73–65.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/320830153|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521171700/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/320830153|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2022|title=Ohio vs. North Carolina - Game Recap - March 23, 2012 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

In four seasons at Ohio, Groce was 85–56 overall and 34–30 in Mid-American Conference games.<ref name="lucky" /><ref name="Introduces">{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story?id=7752138&_slug_=illinois-fighting-illini-introduces-ohio-bobcats-john-groce-new-coach|title=Illinois introduces Ohio's Groce as new coach|date=March 29, 2012|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===University of Illinois===

Groce finalized negotiations to become the men's basketball head coach at the University of Illinois on March 28, 2012, after both [[Shaka Smart]] and [[Brad Stevens]] declined interest in the position.<ref name="Introduces" /><ref>[http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/18047475/illinois-considering-ohio-universitys-john-groce Illinois considering Ohio University's John Groce – CBSSports]</ref>

The Illini started 12–0 in [[2012–13 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|2013]] under Groce, the best start for a first-year coach in the team's modern era.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sports.yahoo.com/news/norfolk-st-illinois-preview-043357150--ncaab.html|title=Norfolk St.-Illinois Preview|website=sports.yahoo.com}}</ref> The team won the [[2012 Maui Invitational Tournament|2012 Maui Invitational]] by defeating [[2012–13 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team|Butler]] in the championship game. Illinois finished the year 23–13, but with a losing conference record at 8–10. The Illini did receive a bid to the [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] advancing to the Third Round (formerly known as the Second Round) before losing to No. 2-seeded [[2012–13 Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team|Miami]].

During their [[2013–14 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|2014 season]], Illinois' success in the month of November improved to 21–0 under Groce. Until losing five non-conference games in the 2015–16 season, Illinois was the only program in the nation with an undefeated November record, dating back to 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/release/release_20141128aaa.pdf|title=Illinois vs. Baylor Game Notes|access-date=29 November 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121654/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/release/release_20141128aaa.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Illini would slip however, finishing 20–15, 7–11 in [[2013–14 Big Ten Conference men's basketball season|Big Ten play]] and failing to make the [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. They did receive a bid to the [[2014 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] advancing to the second round.

The Illini continued to struggle in [[2014–15 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|2015]], finishing 19–14, 9–9 and again failing to make the [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. They did receive a bid to the [[2015 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] where they lost in the first round.

Before the end of their [[2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|2016 season]], new Illinois [[Athletic director|AD]] Josh Whitman gave Groce a vote of confidence, praising his leadership and stating that "John Groce is going to continue to be our basketball coach."<ref>{{cite web|title=Fighting Illini AD gives vote of confidence to John Groce|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14907619/illinois-fighting-illini-ad-gives-vote-confidence-basketball-coach-john-groce|website=ESPN|date=5 March 2016|access-date=6 March 2016}}</ref>  However, the Illini finished the season 15–19, 5–13.

From 2013 to 2016, Groce reversed Illinois' prior four-game [[losing streak]] in the annual [[Braggin' Rights]] interstate rivalry against [[Missouri Tigers men's basketball|Missouri]] by winning the contest for four straight seasons.

The [[2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illini]] fared better in 2017, finishing 20–15, 8–10. The team did win four in a row toward the end of the season leading to talks of an [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] bid, but a loss at Rutgers in the final regular season game likely ended their Tournament hopes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-illinois-loses-ncaa-tournament-ryan-spt-0305-20170304-column.html|title=Illinois lets NCAA tournament dream slip away with loss at Rutgers|last=Ryan|first=Shannon|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2017-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref> On March 11, 2017, Groce was relieved of his duties, two days after the Illini lost its [[2017 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament]] opening-round game to [[2016–17 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dailyillini.com/uncategorized/2017/03/11/groce-head-coach-illinois-basketball/|title=The Daily Illini : Groce out as head coach for Illinois men's basketball – The Daily Illini|last=Gertsmeier|first=Matt|website=dailyillini.com|date=11 March 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref> Following his dismissal, the Illini advanced to the [[2017 National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] quarterfinals before losing to [[2016–17 UCF Knights men's basketball team|UCF]]. He was eventually replaced by [[Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball|Oklahoma State]] head coach [[Brad Underwood]].

===University of Akron===
Following his dismissal from Illinois, Groce was hired on April 5, 2017, to become the new head coach of the Akron Zips.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-john-groce-akron-illinois-20170405-story.html|title=Akron hires former Illinois coach John Groce|last=Ryan|first=Shannon|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2017-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.coachesdatabase.com/john-groce-hired-akron-head-coach/|title=John Groce hired as Akron head coach|work=CoachesDatabase.com|access-date=2017-04-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2017/04/akron_introduces_john_groce_as.html|title=Akron introduces John Groce as new coach amid smiles and celebration (photos)|work=cleveland.com|access-date=2017-07-10|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, Groce's Zips won the MAC regular season title, but were not able to participate in the postseason due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022, the Zips won the MAC Tournament Championship against their rival, Kent State. He took the Zips to the 2022 NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed where they lost in the First Round to 4th seeded UCLA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-13 |title=Akron men's basketball gets 13-seed in NCAA tournament's south region, will face No. 4 UCLA in 1st round |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaab/march-madness/akron-mens-basketball-team-matchup-ncaa-tournament-selection-sunday/95-b5345659-44b9-4976-9b6b-b50f7b05bca8 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Groce led his team to the MAC Championship Semifinal, but were unable to make consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament. In 2024, Groce's Zips won the MAC Tournament Championship, also against Kent State, and clinched Akron's 6th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-16 |title=Instant classic! Akron outlasts Kent State 62-61 in thrilling MAC men's basketball championship game |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaab/march-madness/akron-beats-kent-state-62-61-mac-mens-basketball-championship-game/95-be704930-9b36-4e77-92e4-52b35fb84202 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}</ref> They entered as a 14 seed and lost their first round matchup against 3 seed Creighton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akron to Face Creighton in First Round of NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh |url=https://gozips.com/news/2024/3/17/mens-basketball-akron-to-face-creightonin-first-round-of-ncaa-tournament-in-pittsburgh |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=University of Akron Athletics |language=en}}</ref>  In 2025 they won the [[2024–25 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season|MAC]] and the [[2025 MAC men's basketball tournament|MAC tournament]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gozips.com/news/2025/2/28/mens-basketball-akron-secures-77-72-victory-against-kent-state-after-trailing-at-the-hal|title=Zips Claim Regular Season Title After 77-72 victory Against Kent State|website=Akron Athletics|first=Dave|last=Clark|language=en|access-date=2025-03-15|date=February 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/16/ncaa-mens-basketball-akron-zips-mac-tournament-title-cavaliers-lebron-james-donovan-mitchell-ncaa/82460405007/|title=LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell congratulate Akron Zips on MAC basketball title, NCAA bid|language=en|access-date=2025-03-15|date=2025-03-15|first=Michael|last=Beaven|newspaper=Akron Beacon Jornal}}</ref>  As a 13 seed, they lost their first round matchup in the [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] match to [[2024–25 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/22/akron-zips-blowout-loss-arizona-wildcats-physical-march-madness-game-ncaa-tournament-seattle/82594861007/|language=en|access-date=2025-03-24|date=2025-03-22|first=Nate|last=Ulrich| title=-Akron Zips basketball hurt by historic season ending with bruising loss in NCAA Tournament |newspaper=Akron Beacon Jornal}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball|Ohio Bobcats]]
 | conference = [[Mid-American Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2008
 | endyear    = 2012
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2008–09]]
 | name         = [[2008–09 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
 | overall      = 15–17
 | conference   = 7–9
 | confstanding = 6th <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2009–10]]
 | name         = [[2009–10 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
 | overall      = 22–15
 | conference   = 7–9
 | confstanding = 5th <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season       = [[2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2010–11]]
| name         = [[2010–11 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
| overall      = 19–16
| conference   = 9–7
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(East)</small>
| postseason   = [[2011 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament|CIT Quarterfinal]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season       = [[2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2011–12]]
| name         = [[2011–12 Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team|Ohio]]
| overall      = 29–8
| conference   = 11–5
| confstanding = 3rd <small>(East)</small>
| postseason   = [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Ohio
 | overall    = {{winpct|85|56|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{winpct|34|30|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball|Illinois Fighting Illini]]
 | conference = [[Big Ten Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2012
 | endyear    = 2017
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2012–13]]
 | name         = [[2012–13 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]
 | overall      = 23–13
 | conference   = 8–10
 | confstanding = T–7th
 | postseason   = [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2013–14]]
 | name         = [[2013–14 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]
 | overall      = 20–15
 | conference   = 7–11
 | confstanding = T–8th
 | postseason   = [[2014 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Second Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2014–15]]
 | name         = [[2014–15 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]
 | overall      = 19–14
 | conference   = 9–9
 | confstanding = T–7th
 | postseason   = [[2015 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–16]]
 | name         = [[2015–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]
 | overall      = 15–19
 | conference   = 5–13
 | confstanding = 12th
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2016–17]]
 | name         = [[2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]
 | overall      = 18–14
 | conference   = 8–10
 | confstanding = 9th
 | postseason   = [[2017 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Quarterfinal]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Illinois
 | overall    = {{winpct|95|75|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{winpct|37|53|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Akron Zips men's basketball|Akron Zips]]
 | conference = [[Mid-American Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2017
 | endyear    = present
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18]]
 | name         = [[2017–18 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 14–18
 | conference   = 6–12
 | confstanding = 6th <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2018–19]]
 | name         = [[2018–19 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 17–16
 | conference   = 8–10
 | confstanding = 4th <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]]
 | name         = [[2019–20 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 24–7
 | conference   = 14–4
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = No postseason held
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]]
 | name         = [[2020–21 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 15–8
 | conference   = 12–6
 | confstanding = T–3rd
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2021–22]]
 | name         = [[2021–22 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 24–10
 | conference   = 14–6
 | confstanding = 4th
 | postseason   = [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2022–23]]
 | name         = [[2022–23 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 22–11
 | conference   = 13–5
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | postseason   = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament 
 | season       = [[2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2023–24]]
 | name         = [[2023–24 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 24–11
 | conference   = 13–5
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | postseason   = [[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2024–25]]
 | name         = [[2024–25 Akron Zips men's basketball team|Akron]]
 | overall      = 28–7
 | conference   = 17–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Akron
 | overall    = {{winpct|168|88|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{winpct|99|49|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall = {{winpct|348|219|record=y}}
}}

==Personal life==
Groce's brother is [[Travis Steele]], the current head coach of [[Miami RedHawks men's basketball|Miami (OH)]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/video/no-19-ohio-state-faces-071642766.html |title=No. 19 Ohio State faces Xavier in brotherly triangle |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=18 Nov 2021 |website=yahoo.com |publisher=[[Yahoo]] |access-date=5 Apr 2022 |quote=His brother, John Groce, is head coach of Akron}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Twitter|JohnGroce}}
* [http://gozips.com/coaches.aspx?rc=396&path=mbball Akron profile]
* [http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/john_groce_357009.html Ohio profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054525/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/groce_john00.html Illinois profile]

{{Mid-American Conference men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{navboxes|list=
{{Ohio Bobcats men's basketball coach navbox}}
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{{Akron Zips men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{Hugh Durham Award}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Groce, John}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Akron Zips men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:American men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from Indiana]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Muncie, Indiana]]
[[Category:Butler Bulldogs men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:NC State Wolfpack men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Ohio Bobcats men's basketball coaches]]
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[[Category:Taylor Trojans men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Taylor Trojans men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Xavier Musketeers men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Taylor University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]