Akron basketball coach John Groce emerges as leader in Charleston coach search
ESPN reports Akron coach John Groce is the top target for Charleston's head coaching search, with mutual interest.
The Akron Zips men's basketball team could soon enter a new era because ESPN reported on March 28 coach John Groce has emerged as the top target in Charleston's head coaching search. The report by ESPN's Jeff Borzello also states a hire is not done and steps remain for Groce and Chareston in the next 24 hours, but there is mutual interest between the two sides. More March Madness: Akron Zips threaten Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament before falling apart In nine seasons at the helm of Akron, Groce has compiled a record of 197-94, including 114-50 in the Mid-American Conference.
He is ranked third in program history for most wins, trailing only Akron native Keith Dambrot (305-139 from 2005-17) and Russell Beichly (288-144 from 1941-59). The Zips won four MAC Tournament titles (2022, '24, '25 and '26) and thereby advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times in a span of five years under Groce. They lost in the first round each time, falling 57-53 to fourth-seeded UCLA as a No.
13 seed on March 17, 2022, 77-60 to third-seeded Creighton as a No. 14 seed on March 21, 2024, 93-65 to fourth-seeded Arizona as a No. 13 seed on March 21, 2025, and 91-71 to fifth-seeded Texas Tech as a No.
12 seed on March 20. Akron basketball column: March Madness reaffirms Zips can build with Eric Mahaffey | Opinion The 54-year-old Groce has been a head coach for 18 seasons. He has a career record of 377-225, including 4-7 in the NCAA Tournament.