College of Charleston hire former Big Ten, Akron head coach

Less than per week after shedding Chris Mack to South Florida, College of Charleston has discovered its subsequent head coach.

Akron’s John Groce has agreed to turn out to be the head coach at College of Charleston, sources confirmed on March 30.

Groce, 54, replaces Mack, who left on March 25 to take the head teaching place with the Bulls after back-to-back 20-win seasons with the Cougars. Like Mack, who coached at Louisville, Groce has expertise main a Power 4 program having coached Illinois of the Big Ten from 2012-17.

A press convention to introduce Groce is anticipated to be held on Wednesday.

Groce has compiled a report of 197-94 in 9 seasons at Akron, together with 114-50 within the Mid-American Conference.

Groce guided the Zips to 4 MAC Tournament championships incomes the league’s computerized bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Zips have been an element of March Madness 4 of the final 5 seasons (2022, ’24, ’25, and ’26) below Groce.

The Twelfth-seeded Zips, who went 29-6 this previous season, are coming off a loss to Texas Tech within the opening spherical of the NCAA Tournament on March 20.

Groce has been a head coach for 18 seasons, compiling a 377-225 report, together with 4-7 in March Madness. He’s recorded not less than two 20-win seasons in any respect three spots throughout his profession and 10 general 20-win campaigns.

Groce’s first head teaching place got here in Ohio from 2008-12 the place he led the Bobcats to an 85-56 report, together with two appearances within the NCAA Tournament. As a No. 13 seed, Groce led the Bobcats to the Sweet 16 in 2012.

The following season, he took the head teaching job at Illinois, the place he went 95-75 however managed only one look within the Big Dance.

Akron signed Groce an extension final season by the 2035 season that pays him a base wage of $650,000 however goes as much as $850,000 with incentives and dietary supplements. Included within the extension had been two $75,000 retention bonuses.

Groce has a $350,000 buyout clause in his contract.