John Groce - Leaving a MAC Dynasty to a New Era at Charleston

John Groce is embarking on a new chapter as the head coach of College of Charleston, taking over one of the most tradition-rich programs in college basketball. Charleston boasts the sixth-highest winning percentage in college basketball history, and the program’s expectations remain as high as ever. By bringing in Groce, the Cougars have secured one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in the mid-major ranks to lead them into their next era. Groce arrives in Charleston after a remarkable nine-year run at University of Akron, where he built the Zips into one of the most consistent winners in the country. Most notably, Akron captured three consecutive MAC Championships, becoming the first program in conference history to accomplish that feat. Under Groce’s leadership, the Zips developed a reputation for toughness, discipline, and sustained excellence, regularly competing for championships and earning national respect. Now, Groce takes over a Charleston program that is already one of the most attractive jobs in mid-major basketball. With the school’s winning tradition, strong fan support, and resources, the Cougars are positioned to become a major force under his leadership. The combination of Charleston’s history and Groce’s proven track record has made the program one of the most intriguing stories in college basketball, and expectations will be high as the Cougars look to contend for championships in the years ahead. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and follow ‪@Notevend2‬ Enjoy the episode! Sneak Peek- 00:00-01:35 Intro to John Groce- 01:35-06:24 Early Adjustments to Charleston & "Whacky Wednesday's"- 06:24-10:07 Decision to Sign with College of Charleston, Reflecting on Success in the MAC- 10:07-17:30 First Evaluations Arriving at a New Program, Building College of Charleston Basketball, & Mindset Scheduling- 17:30-24:22 Recruiting Philosophy, Fitting in Groce's Culture & Coaching High-Major vs Mid-Major- 24:22-30:37 Translating / Rebuilding Success at Charleston, Adapting to CAA- 30:37-33:21 Offensive Philosophy, Teaching "All Gas, No Breaks" into an Efficient Style- 33:21-38:20 Reflecting from 2026 March Madness against Texas Tech- 38:20-41:41 Goals / Vision for College of Charleston- 41:41-44:46 Rapid Fire & Story Time (ft. Tavari Johnson, Thad Matta, & Travis Steele)- 44:46-58:49 NBA Finals Thoughts / Reactions & Outro- 58:49-01:05:39 #basketball #charleston #mbb #akron #mac #caa #collegebasketball #marchmadness #offense #coaching #sports #nerudaperdomo #kjallison #notevend2 #podcast