After five seasons and just one NCAA Tournament appearance, Illinois has fired men’s basketball coach John Groce.
Illinois basketball fires head coach John Groce
After five lackluster seasons, the Illini are now in search of a new front man for their men’s basketball program.
Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
“I want to thank John Groce and his staff for their tireless efforts over these past five years,” Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. “In many ways, John is a model leader. He exudes optimism and tackles every day with unbelievable energy. He has the highest integrity. He has been an active presence in our community and a strong public ambassador for Illinois Basketball. Most importantly, he loves his players unconditionally and helps them develop into young men prepared for the next stages of their lives. Our student-athletes are having a positive experience, achieving record heights in the classroom, and leaving campus as proud graduates with bright futures.
“Under his leadership, regrettably, we were not able to sustain the level of competitive excellence that we expect at the University of Illinois,” Whitman continued. “But that should do nothing to detract from the many wonderful things John has done on behalf of Illinois Basketball during his tenure. We wish John, Allison, and their three children nothing but the best, and we thank his staff and their families as well for their many contributions to our program. All will be missed.”
Groce, who came to Illinois after leading Ohio on a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 in 2012, had some success right out of the gate in Champaign. His first Illini team won 23 games, earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and defeated Colorado in the first round. That would be the final time Groce would take Illinois dancing, however, as an 18-13 season in 2016-17 that ended with a blowout loss to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament ultimately sealed his fate.
In Chicago, there was pushback against Illinois’ hire of Groce almost immediately. Prominent local AAU and high school coaches complained that they had “never heard” of the new Illini front man, an issue which many believe affected Groce’s ability to recruit the basketball-rich city the way he needed to.
In five seasons, Groce produced an overall record of 95-74. He did not lead Illinois to an above .500 finish in Big Ten play once.
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