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NCAA Basketball: Top 10 impact head coaching hires from 2008 offseason

By Joey Loose

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30: Tom Crean the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers points up to the student section following the 76-67 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Assembly Hall on November 30, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30: Tom Crean the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers points up to the student section following the 76-67 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels at Assembly Hall on November 30, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball John Groce Ohio Bobcats (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NCAA Basketball John Groce Ohio Bobcats (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. John Groce (Ohio)

Honestly, Ohio was in decent shape when 2008 rolled around. The program was only needing a head coach because Tim O’Shea departed to become the first D1 coach at Bryant. The Bobcats had won at least 19 games in four straight seasons, but only one of those seasons had ended in the NCAA Tournament. Continuing this success was onto the next coach, who achieved that and more.

John Groce was still a young assistant at this point, having not yet had the chance to run his own program. He was a player and assistant at Taylor, before joining Herb Sendek’s staff at NC State. Groce then followed Thad Matta, spending time on his staffs at Butler, Xavier, and Ohio State, making great strides with each of those programs. After four years at Ohio State, it was time for Groce to make the short journey to take over the Bobcats program.

The Bobcats didn’t win 19 games every year Groce was in charge, but the highs were just that much higher. In 2010, Groce not only got the program back in the NCAA Tournament but delivered an opening-round upset as a 14-seed. Two years later, the Bobcats took it a step further, making the Sweet Sixteen as a 12-seed, pushing top-seeded North Carolina to the brink as well.

Groce accepted the Illinois job, which wasn’t as successful, but his success with this Ohio program cannot be understated. Three Tournament wins in four years is incredible for any MAC team.

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