Also makes Groce available to other programs immediately.
John Groce Fired
Also makes Groce available to other programs immediately.
He would still be available immediately.
TownieMatt
CU Expat
- Chicago
Groce was let go immediately because our performance in the NITs is meaningless and we want to move on with a coaching search without the former guy lingering around the program. That's what is in the best interest of our program moving forward. Not making a fired coach feel a little better about the end to his tenure.
No, he wouldn't be available until Thursday at the earliest, assuming the we lost in round 1 of the NIT. Five days makes a huge difference in a coaching search at this time of year.
Because you don't want some 3 or 4 game run in a second rate tournament to cloud the issue with players suddenly campaigning for him to stay because "we finally came together as a team in his system" type of hogwash.
Deleted member 526137
D
Guest
I'm hoping Groce replaces Dakich at ESPN.
Seems like Head Coach Jamall Walker is a Tilmon play.
I've been waiting for something important to happen to make my 1,000th post. As the daughter-in-law of an Illini whose banner has been raised to the top of the Assembly Hall, the firing of John Groce and hiring of a new leader for the Illini program closest to my heart is of the utmost significance to my family. I, too, want to thank Coach Groce for his commitment, integrity, and class. I had high hopes after that Miami game that the Illini were on their way back. I'm really sorry it didn't work out, and I wish him nothing but the best. I am again impressed with Josh Whitman, his confident leadership, and his sensitivity towards his friend. I trust him to hire a new high character coach to get the best out of these players and recruits and bring the program back to the prominence it has historically earned. I hope the seniors, especially Tracy and Malcolm, can fight even harder and go out with a bang to end their careers at Illinois on a positive note, which they deserve for their years of hard work and perseverance. I look forward to the future. #WeWillWin
A few years from now I hope you get the chance to look up at that banner while listening to a deafening roar from a sold out SFC while we clinch our 4th straight Big 10 title.
618 Illini
- Chicago
Thank you John Groce for leading the basketball team with such poise and character. Couldn't ask for a better leader and figurehead for the program and school. I wish him nothing but the best at his next opportunity.
A couple points about the press conferences:
1. Love that Whitman is not using a search firm. To me the message is "I know my shortlist and don't need a search firm to comb the earth for hidden gems."
2. I think Whitman's interview is such a great sales pitch for the next coach. How could you not want to work with such a great guy. Even when the going gets tough, they both held firm to their character.
3. Tremendous respect for Coach Groce to stand up there and go through a painful interview with class.
Go Illini!
A couple points about the press conferences:
1. Love that Whitman is not using a search firm. To me the message is "I know my shortlist and don't need a search firm to comb the earth for hidden gems."
2. I think Whitman's interview is such a great sales pitch for the next coach. How could you not want to work with such a great guy. Even when the going gets tough, they both held firm to their character.
3. Tremendous respect for Coach Groce to stand up there and go through a painful interview with class.
Go Illini!
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal
For as long as Kedric has been writing, you'd think he be even a tad bit serviceable at it, but that, uh, seems not to be the case.
That's not what search firms are for, at this level.
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Something tells me that Prince has had that piece ready to go since the Bama loss.
I'm talking about it from groce's perspective. He is available to interested schools as of yesterday as opposed to late next week at the earliest. This is especially important if he's going to take over a midmajor that is not playing in the postseason or going back to being an assistant at a high major not playing in the postseason.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
North Texas is open. Conference USA. Not a bad place to fall.
Stranger things have happened but it would surprise me if JG got a head coaching job at any D1 school.
Why?
The mid-major conferences are loaded with ex-P5 guys with worse resumes than Groce.
A great person, great face of the program and solid recruiter who just bit off a bit more than he could chew coaching-wise at the major conference level is something many mid-major schools are likely to be interested in.
Anything is possible, and there may be some low major AD's out there more enamored of his coaching talents than I am.
Anyone else have this premonition.
Headline: "Groce Takes Missouri Head Coaching Position. Tilman, Pickett and Frazier Follow. Illinois Continues Search"
Groce comments: "After listening to Josh Whitman's explain that my firing was just business, I realized that being a head coach isn't about character, it is about winning. That being the case, and my loyalties now being to my new employer, I was compelled to offer those recruits a place at Missouri."
Josh Whitman comments: "But he was my friend."
Headline: "Groce Takes Missouri Head Coaching Position. Tilman, Pickett and Frazier Follow. Illinois Continues Search"
Groce comments: "After listening to Josh Whitman's explain that my firing was just business, I realized that being a head coach isn't about character, it is about winning. That being the case, and my loyalties now being to my new employer, I was compelled to offer those recruits a place at Missouri."
Josh Whitman comments: "But he was my friend."
As Groce is no longer employed by Illinois it would be an NCAA violation for him to recruit them.
Spot on. He may pick up a job right away, and will almost certainly be coaching next year.
Wow, that's some of the most intense revisionist history I've ever heard.
Groce made no effort to bring LeVert to Illinois because he didn't think he was good enough, nor did any poster here.
If Groce did this, he would not be the man that many of the posters on this board have acknowledged that he is. And if he IS this kind of man and did a good job of fooling everyone, the Illini would again certainly have made the right choice yesterday.
I never "just" want to win. I want to win WITH character. If the Illini can't do that in today's environment, then we're better off in mediocre purgatory. Reference Baylor football and various hoops programs that will remain unidentified.
Meh, this is sports, not life. Character schmaracter.