Not hard to figure. KD went there to retire. He will be 65 at the end of the guaranteed contract making twice the money of akron. He also sees that his chances of getting to the NCAA at akron, is less and getting lesser. The new coaches entering the MAC in the past few years are making it difficult. The West Division is gaining strength, finally. KD had built his team to be his best, and he expected to win the conference. He did not and he lost his dog. I can imagine that KD was evaluating the situation during a moment of weakness.

I'd say it's widely accepted among Zips fans that the 2012-2013 prior to losing Abreu was Dambrot's best team. You're pretty much spot on about Dambrot being frustrated with by the fact that no matter how well the team performed during the regular season, it always came down to needing to win 3 games in 3 days. He knows his clock is ticking and he wouldn't have reached the level of success he has if he didn't have a thirst for winning a NCAAT game. With Akron hitting a rebuilding period he felt he has a better chance of winning of making a run in the tournament at Duquesne than Akron over the next 7 years, meanwhile, he collects a large check trying to do it.

(03-28-2017 08:15 PM)Wadszip Wrote:  However, part of the reason the MAC has been a one-bid league is because of his lack of taking what has been the marquee team in the league to anything other than a bunch of MAC title game appearances and first-round knockouts. So, part of that is on his shoulders.

The university lost its high floor, low ceiling coach for ?????. If they are willing to invest in the program at the same level they invested in it under Dambrot, things will be fine.

I'm a little late, but I agree with what you said here. A consistent MAC team that bows out in Round 1 of the Tourney, does no better in the NIT, or loses the MAC Championship game, eventually reaches stagnation. We never really got out of Akron under him what I'm sure many of their fans were hoping for. Sure, they've been the top-dog in the MAC under him, but I'm sure their fans were want more. I know I was when I saw Akron in the post-season.

(04-01-2017 08:29 AM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(03-28-2017 08:15 PM)Wadszip Wrote:  However, part of the reason the MAC has been a one-bid league is because of his lack of taking what has been the marquee team in the league to anything other than a bunch of MAC title game appearances and first-round knockouts. So, part of that is on his shoulders.

The university lost its high floor, low ceiling coach for ?????. If they are willing to invest in the program at the same level they invested in it under Dambrot, things will be fine.

I'm a little late, but I agree with what you said here. A consistent MAC team that bows out in Round 1 of the Tourney, does no better in the NIT, or loses the MAC Championship game, eventually reaches stagnation. We never really got out of Akron under him what I'm sure many of their fans were hoping for. Sure, they've been the top-dog in the MAC under him, but I'm sure their fans were want more. I know I was when I saw Akron in the post-season.

The problem is bigger than Dambrot and even Akron.

This was the year many enlightened fans predicted a wide open MAC tourney because of the parity (or mediocrity) and the chance for an upset, which happened.

Thought it was a nice letter to the fans, community and players.

Picking a nit, but I don't consider a team to be a high-mid-major until they receive an at-large to the NCAA tourney.

(04-01-2017 12:36 PM)RocketJeff Wrote:  Picking a nit, but I don't consider a team to be a high-mid-major until they receive an at-large to the NCAA tourney.

Yeah.

I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Yeah, I'm seeing lots of reports on twitter saying the same thing.

John Groce coming back to the MAC, eh?

Should add a bonus aspect to the Ohio-Akron rivalry.

(04-04-2017 04:02 PM)BobcatEngineer Wrote:  Yeah, I'm seeing lots of reports on twitter saying the same thing.

John Groce coming back to the MAC, eh?

Should add a bonus aspect to the Ohio-Akron rivalry.

Maybe for OU fans. Groce is easily baited into getting technicals.

Sounds like it's official.

John Groce to Akron.

Maybe he'll be able to take the Zips further than the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you hear that Groce is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

It's too be seen how his contract is structured. Illinois still owes him money for the 1st 2 years of this deal and his contract with Illinois has offsetting language so every dollar Akron pays him it translates to 1 less dollar Illinois has to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract is structured in a way that he'd make significantly more years 3-6 than what he will make years 1 & 2.

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

I imagine Baylor football would pay more.

(04-05-2017 10:45 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

It's too be seen how his contract is structured. Illinois still owes him money for the 1st 2 years of this deal and his contract with Illinois has offsetting language so every dollar Akron pays him it translates to 1 less dollar Illinois has to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract is structured in a way that he'd make significantly more years 3-6 than what he will make years 1 & 2.

He should get more. He's got a winning record against Dambrot and his NCAA record (4-3) blows Dambrot's (0-3 with an average margin of defeat of 24 pts) out of the water. Being Mr. March is much more important than being Mr. February.

(04-05-2017 02:07 PM)OUVan Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:45 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

It's too be seen how his contract is structured. Illinois still owes him money for the 1st 2 years of this deal and his contract with Illinois has offsetting language so every dollar Akron pays him it translates to 1 less dollar Illinois has to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract is structured in a way that he'd make significantly more years 3-6 than what he will make years 1 & 2.

He should get more. He's got a winning record against Dambrot and his NCAA record (4-3) blows Dambrot's (0-3 with an average margin of defeat of 24 pts) out of the water. Being Mr. March is much more important than being Mr. February.

That's only relevant if you can GET to March.

What a huge hire for Akron to bring Groce back to the MAC. He's taking it because its the highest paying mid major job available at the moment assuming he'll be paid the same as Dambrot.

Miami had an excellent hire relative to where their program has been. It's an A10 level coaching hire.

Then at the same time the MVC takes a punch in the gut with Wichita State leaving. They'll probably not do anything innovative with replacement schools.

This is a good offseason for the MAC.

(04-05-2017 02:07 PM)OUVan Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:45 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 12:25 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  I'm hearing Groce and Akron are very close to a deal. Could happen within the next 24 hours.

And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

It's too be seen how his contract is structured. Illinois still owes him money for the 1st 2 years of this deal and his contract with Illinois has offsetting language so every dollar Akron pays him it translates to 1 less dollar Illinois has to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract is structured in a way that he'd make significantly more years 3-6 than what he will make years 1 & 2.

He should get more. He's got a winning record against Dambrot and his NCAA record (4-3) blows Dambrot's (0-3 with an average margin of defeat of 24 pts) out of the water. Being Mr. March is much more important than being Mr. February.

I was dead on. Akron is only paying him $350k for the 1st 2 years of the deal. There will be a bump after the 1st 2 years. That's significantly less than what Zips were paying Dambrot.

"Wilson said Groce's six-year contract will start at $350,000 the first two seasons then escalate from there based on industry standards. If that seems low, it's because Groce is also sitting on the final two years of his Illinois contract, which reportedly has $1.7 million left on it."

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/...ce_as.html

(04-06-2017 03:57 PM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 02:07 PM)OUVan Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:45 AM)kreed5120 Wrote:  

(04-05-2017 10:09 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  

(04-04-2017 03:48 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  And I'm hearing my lunch work its way back up my throat.

Just wait until you year that Grobe is going to get paid more than Dambrot was supposed to get at UA this year

It's too be seen how his contract is structured. Illinois still owes him money for the 1st 2 years of this deal and his contract with Illinois has offsetting language so every dollar Akron pays him it translates to 1 less dollar Illinois has to pay him. I wouldn't be surprised if his contract is structured in a way that he'd make significantly more years 3-6 than what he will make years 1 & 2.

He should get more. He's got a winning record against Dambrot and his NCAA record (4-3) blows Dambrot's (0-3 with an average margin of defeat of 24 pts) out of the water. Being Mr. March is much more important than being Mr. February.

I was dead on. Akron is only paying him $350k for the 1st 2 years of the deal. There will be a bump after the 1st 2 years. That's significantly less than what Zips were paying Dambrot.

"Wilson said Groce's six-year contract will start at $350,000 the first two seasons then escalate from there based on industry standards. If that seems low, it's because Groce is also sitting on the final two years of his Illinois contract, which reportedly has $1.7 million left on it."

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/...ce_as.html

I guess to paraphrase this quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson, “'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”

It is better to have been hired and fired (by a team in a power conference) than never have been hired at all (by them)...

Coaches are set financially after being hired by rich programs regardless of whether they succeed or not...

Gary Waters is also a classic case. After leaving Kent for Rutgers he became financially set for life and then moved back down to CLE State.