John Groce Now a Bobcat

Rumors were just as often heard about John Groce leaving the Ohio State Basketball Buckeyes as about Head Coach Thad Matta leaving for a different job. Finally the rumors came true as Ohio University picked Groce as their new head coach.

By Steve Patterson

Matta and Groce
    Groce followed Matta from Butler to Xavier and finally to Ohio State and is given much the praise for all three programs success while Matta was the head coach. Groce is sometimes considered to be the tactical mind behind Matta’s winning teams, calling the play sequences from the sidelines.

    This is Groce’s first time as a head coach and he should be able to continue performing at a high level at one of the better MAC programs. Both coaches Matta and Groce have the ability to get the most out of their players and to recruit well which was evident in the Buckeye’s quick turnaround from the Jim O’Brien era to the Matta era.

Mid-West Roots

    The Ohio Bobcats were looking for a local coach from either the Mid-West or Ohio. Groce like Matta is an Indiana guy. Groce grew up in Muncie and played college ball in Upland, Indiana at Taylor University. Groce turned down a previous opportunity to be the head coach at Murray State in 2006 because he wanted to continue coaching in the Mid-West where he has ties to many of the high school programs that produce the best talent.