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04/30/2013
Paul, Weinstein Receive Top Honor at Scholar-Athlete Reception
Basketball, Gymnastics Standouts Take Home Prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor
04/29/2013
Paul, Weinstein Receive Top Honor at Scholar-Athlete Reception
Basketball, Gymnastics Standouts Take Home Prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor
04/24/2013
Illini Caravan Plans Chicago Visit for May 8
Illinois Leaders Schedule Busy Day in State's Largest City, Evening Reception in Evanston
04/18/2013
Pedon Joins Illini Staff
Former Toledo Assistant Named Special Assistant to the Head Coach
04/17/2013
Cosby and Ekey Transferring to Illinois
Cosby will have to sit out 2013-14, while Ekey will be eligible to play immediately
03/24/2013
Illinois vs. Miami - NCAA Tournament 3rd Round
Photos from the NCAA Tournament 3rd Round game between Illinois and Miami on 3/24/13 in Austin, Texas. (Mark Jones)
03/22/2013
Illinois vs. Colorado - NCAA Tournament 2nd Round
Illinois vs. Colorado in the 2nd Round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas - 3/22/13 (photos by Mark Jones)
03/15/2013
Illinois vs. Indiana - 03/15/13
Illinois vs. Indiana - 03/15/13
03/14/2013
Illinois vs. Minnesota (AP)
Illinois men's basketball
03/10/2013
Illinois vs. No. 14 Ohio State (AP)
Illinois men's basketball
John Groce was named the 17th Fighting Illini men's basketball coach on March 29, 2012. Groce (pronounced GROSS) directed the Illinois program to a number of achievements during his first year - including a 23-win campaign that marked a six-win improvement from the UI's previous season - culminating in an NCAA Tournament appearance and subsequent victory to advance to the Round of 32.
Illinois won its first 12 games in 2012-13, equaling the sixth-best start in school history and matching the best start ever for a first-year UI coach. Included in that stretch was a dominating performance in Hawaii as the Illini captured the school's first-ever EA SPORTS Maui Invitational championship. Illinois also recorded arguably the most impressive win of college basketball's pre-conference season, winning at No. 10 Gonzaga by double digits.
The Illini spent eight weeks ranked in the Top 25, reaching as high as No. 10. Illinois recorded two more top-10 wins during conference play in one of the most difficult seasons in Big Ten history. The Illini defeated No. 8 Ohio State on Jan. 5 by 19 points, its largest margin of victory over a top-10 opponent since 1964. Then on Feb. 7, Illinois garnered national headlines with a thrilling last-second victory over No. 1 Indiana. The Illini won it at the buzzer on a layup by Tyler Griffey, leading to a court storming celebration at the Assembly Hall as Illinois defeated a No. 1-ranked opponent for just the third time in school history.
The Fighting Illini earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated No. 10 Colorado in the Round of 64 as Groce improved his record in the opening round of the Tournament to 9-0 during his coaching career, and 3-0 as a head coach. Groce now stands as one of just 14 coaches to win NCAA Tournament games in each of the last two years, and one of 17 coaches to record NCAA Tournament victories in at least three of the last four years.
Groce arrived at Illinois after four seasons as head coach at Ohio University, where he led the Bobcats to an 85-56 overall record as well as Mid-American Conference Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010 and 2012.
Ohio was the story of the 2012 Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 as a No. 13 seed with victories over No. 4 seed Michigan followed by No. 12 seed South Florida. The Bobcats finished just short of the Elite Eight, falling to top-seed North Carolina in overtime in the regional semifinal. It marked just the second time in Ohio's school history and first since 1964 that the Bobcats won multiple games in the NCAA Tournament. Ohio finished the 2012 season with a school-record 29 wins and was known for its pressure defense, ranking second nationally in turnover percentage and third in steals percentage.
Ohio also made noise in the 2010 postseason. Playing in the school's first NCAA Tournament game in five seasons, the Bobcats received a No. 14 seed and defeated No. 3 seed Georgetown. With the 2010 and 2012 NCAA performances, Ohio became just the sixth school ever to win Tournament games as both a 13 and 14 seed.
The 41-year-old Groce has a total of 20 years in the coaching profession and has been part of teams that have made 17 postseason appearances. His record in 15 years as an assistant was an impressive 349-156, giving him a combined record of 457-225 over his 20 years.
Groce earned his first head-coaching job at Ohio following four seasons on Thad Matta's staff at Ohio State from 2005-08, the first two as assistant coach and last two as associate head coach. During Groce's time in Columbus the Buckeyes amassed a record of 105-35, advanced to the NCAA Championship game in 2007 and second round in 2006, claimed back-to-back outright Big Ten Championships in 2006 and 2007 and won the NIT in 2008. Groce played a key role in recruiting many of the top players at Ohio State and was named Rivals.com's 2006 National Recruiter of the Year.
In all, Groce spent eight years as an assistant under Matta. Prior to his time at Ohio State, Groce served three years on Matta's staff at Xavier from 2002-04 and one season at Butler in 2000-01. The Musketeers went 78-23 and made three straight NCAA appearances, advancing to the second round in 2002 and 2003 and the Elite Eight in 2004. Xavier also won consecutive Atlantic 10 titles in 2002 and 2003. Butler, meanwhile, went 24-8 and won a conference crown in 2001 while also advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Groce entered the Division I coaching ranks as a member of Herb Sendek's staff at North Carolina State from 1997-2000. The Wolfpack went 73-58 overall and advanced to the NIT in each of the four seasons Groce was in Raleigh, including a trip to the semifinals in 2000.
Groce got his start in coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, Taylor University, an NAIA school in Upland, Ind. Groce spent three years on Paul Patterson's staff from 1994-96, helping lead the Trojans to a 69-32 record and pair of trips to the NAIA national tournament. Groce played for Patterson for three years from 1991-93 before transitioning to a student assistant role as a senior. Taylor compiled a 90-16 record and made three trips to the NAIA Tournament during Groce's playing career, including a 1991 NAIA Final Four appearance during his freshman season.
Groce earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Taylor in 1994. John and his wife, Allison, have two sons, Conner and Camden.
THE GROCE FILE
Born: Sept. 7, 1971, in Muncie, Ind.
Hometown: Danville, Ind.
Family: Wife, Allison; Sons, Conner and Camden
Education: Taylor University, B.S., mathematics, 1994
Playing Experience: 1991-93 Taylor University
Groce Coaching Experience
| Years | School | Position |
| 2013-14 | University of Illinois | Head Coach |
| 2009-12 | Ohio University | Head Coach |
| 2007-08 | Ohio State University | Associate Head Coach |
| 2005-06 | Ohio State University | Assistant Coach |
| 2002-04 | Xavier University | Assistant Coach |
| 2001 | Butler University | Assistant Coach |
| 1997-2000 | North Carolina State University | Assistant Coach |
| 1994-96 | Taylor University | Assistant Coach |
Groce Year-By-Year Coaching Record
| Season | School | Position | Overall / Conf. (Finish) | Postseason |
| 2012-13 | Illinois | Head Coach | 23-13 / 8-10 (7th) | NCAA 3rd Round |
| 2011-12 | Ohio | Head Coach | 29-8 / 11-5 (3rd) | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2010-11 | Ohio | Head Coach | 19-16 / 9-7 (5th) | CIT Quarterfinal |
| 2009-10 | Ohio | Head Coach | 22-15 / 7-9 (9th) | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2008-09 | Ohio | Head Coach | 15-17 / 7-9 (9th) | |
| 2007-08 | Ohio State | Associate Head Coach | 24-13 / 10-8 (5th) | NIT Champions |
| 2006-07 | Ohio State | Associate Head Coach | 35-4 / 15-1 (1st) | NCAA Runner-up |
| 2005-06 | Ohio State | Assistant Coach | 26-6 / 12-4 (1st) | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2004-05 | Ohio State | Assistant Coach | 20-12 / 8-8 (6th) | |
| 2003-04 | Xavier | Assistant Coach | 26-11 / 10-6 (3rd) | NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2002-03 | Xavier | Assistant Coach | 26-6 / 15-1 (1st) | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2001-02 | Xavier | Assistant Coach | 26-6 / 14-2 (1st) | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 2000-01 | Butler | Assistant Coach | 24-8 / 11-3 (1st) | NCAA 2nd Round |
| 1999-2000 | North Carolina State | Assistant Coach | 20-14 / 6-10 (6th) | NIT Semifinal |
| 1998-99 | North Carolina State | Assistant Coach | 19-14 / 6-10 (5th) | NIT 2nd Round |
| 1997-98 | North Carolina State | Assistant Coach | 17-15 / 5-11 (8th) | NIT 2nd Round |
| 1996-97 | North Carolina State | Assistant Coach | 17-15 / 4-12 (8th) | NIT 2nd Round |
| 1995-96 | Taylor | Assistant Coach | 23-13 / 10-4 (2nd) | NAIA 1st Round |
| 1994-95 | Taylor | Assistant Coach | 17-14 / 8-6 (4th) | |
| 1993-94 | Taylor | Assistant Coach | 29-5 / -- | NAIA 2nd Round |
| Cumulative Coaching Record | |
| Record at Illinois (1 season) | 23-13 (.639) |
| Career Head Coaching Record (5 seasons) | 108-69 (.610) |
| Assistant Coaching Record (15 seasons) | 349-156 (.691) |
| Total Collegiate Coaching Record (20 seasons) | 457-225 (.670) |
Updated 4/9/13
