Akron Coach John Groce Thrives After Illinois Firing: A Cinderella Story?
Walking into the Akron program this week, John Groce paused at a glass case holding four MAC tournament trophies. The newest trophy, dated 2026, capped a run of four titles in five seasons and three straight championships.
Groce is nine years into the Akron job after his 2017 departure from Illinois. He prepares to take the Zips to Tampa, Florida, as the Midwest Region’s No. 12 seed. Akron meets No. 5 seed Texas Tech in a first-round NCAA Tournament game on Friday at 11:40 a.m. on truTV.
Dominance in the MAC
Akron has posted a 100-28 MAC record over the past seven seasons. The Zips went 34-2 in conference play the past two years.
They have won 31 straight home games. Counting tournament contests, Akron has prevailed in 43 of its last 45 MAC matchups.
Key stats and personnel
The team scores 88.4 points per game. Point guard Tavari Johnson leads the roster with 20.1 points and 5.0 assists per game.
Johnson, a La Grange Park (Lyons) native and the MAC tournament MVP, returned for all four seasons. His decision to stay has been a major factor in Akron’s consistency.
Coaching evolution and culture
As Akron coach John Groce, he has remodeled his teams into a faster, free-flowing unit. The stylistic shift contrasts with his earlier Illinois squads, which often struggled to score.
Groce cites improved emotional intelligence, or EQ, for better on-court decision-making. He has also maintained staff stability, losing only one assistant in nine years.
The program benefits from NIL resources above the MAC average. Player retention rates are high, and Groce’s son Conner serves as a walk-on.
Past, perception and prospects
Groce’s Illinois tenure produced one NCAA appearance and four consecutive seasons without a tournament berth. He was dismissed by Illinois in 2017.
His Big Ten winning percentage at Illinois was .411, and his overall record there was .559. Those marks were the lowest since Lou Henson’s era beginning in 1975.
Before Illinois, Groce made his name at Ohio. He won three NCAA Tournament games and reached a Sweet 16 after upsets of No. 3 Georgetown and No. 4 Michigan.
Despite past setbacks, Groce has become a rumored candidate for jobs at higher-profile programs such as Butler and Cincinnati. He says he remains open-minded about future opportunities.
Family and personal reflections
Groce’s father, Larry, died of cancer in 2024. During Larry’s final spring, Groce drove 300 miles each Friday to spend weekends at his father’s side. NCAA practice rules limited on-court work to eight hours weekly at that time.
He often reflects on lessons learned. Groce credits experience with helping him grow as a coach, husband and father.
Sibling subplot in the MAC
Groce’s half-brother, Travis Steele, coaches Miami (Ohio). Steele’s team went 18-0 in MAC play and improved to 32-1 after a First Four win over SMU.
Akron’s lone conference loss this season was a 76-73 defeat at Miami. The sibling rivalry adds another layer to March storylines.
Akron coach John Groce has clearly thrived after his Illinois firing, and some observers call the turnaround a Cinderella story. A first NCAA Tournament win with Akron would deepen that narrative.
Filmogaz.com will monitor the Zips as they seek to advance in Tampa and continue a remarkable MAC run.
