On Thursday, Akron head coach John Groce received the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award, presented to the top mid-major head coach in college basketball. Groce led the Zips to a school-record 28 wins this season, winning the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament titles.
Groce has led Akron to its most successful run ever, leading the team to three NCAA tournaments in four years. After a fourth straight 20-win season, the team is still looking for its first NCAA tournament victory.
From Rebuild to Recognition: John Groce Named 2025 Mid-Major Coach of the Year
Groce, who came to Akron in 2017 following his dismissal from Illinois — where he led the Fighting Illini to one NCAA tournament appearance in five seasons — took just five seasons to build a 14-18 Akron team into a perennial MAC power.
April 3, 2025
2025 HUGH DURHAM NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Akron’s John Groce is the recipient of the 2025 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award, which is presented annually to the top head coach in mid-major college basketball.
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— College Insider Inc. (@collegeinsider) April 3, 2025
“John Groce wins with class and dignity while positively impacting all those around him,” said Rick Boyages, Executive Director at CollegeInsider.com and former VP of Men’s Basketball for the Big Ten Conference.
“His positive, upbeat approach, infectious enthusiasm, and tireless work ethic instill great confidence in his players and staff. John’s a high-energy leader who establishes a family-first approach with all of his teams, and to no one’s surprise, he’s once again back on top of the Mid-American Conference.”
In 2019-20, the Zips were head and shoulders above the rest of the conference and well on their way to the NCAA tournament before the MAC tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It took two more years for Akron to make the tournament, finally breaking through in 2021-22 as a No. 13 seed. They lost to No. 4 UCLA 57-53 in the first round.
The Zips took a step back in 2022-23, finishing third in the MAC and losing in the conference tournament semifinals. They returned to the dance in 2023-24, beating No. 8 Kent State in a 62-61 nailbiter in the MAC tournament championship. They were awarded a No. 14 seed, losing 77-60 to No. 3 Creighton in the first round.
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This year, Akron finished 17-1 in conference play and undefeated 16-0 at home before rolling through the MAC tournament. They were awarded a No. 13 seed and lost to No. 4 Arizona, 93-65, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
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