Sports
According To Reports: John Groce Agrees To Become Illinois’ Next Head Coach
By: Blake Brodie
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According to the Chicago Sun-Times and CBSSports.com college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, John Groce is officially headed to Illinois.
Groce met with his team shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Thursday morning, then left for Illinois. The University of Illinois will hold a press conference Thursday at 2:00 p.m. EST to announce Groce as its new head men's basketball coach.
There is no word yet on whether any of Groce's assistants will follow him to Champaign, Ill. Ohio University Athletic Director Jim Schaus will hold a press conference at the Convocation Center at 3:45 p.m. EST on Thursday to talk about the future of the Bobcat basketball program
The news of Groce's departure broke shortly before 11 p.m. EST on Wednesday that Groce, who led the Bobcats to the Sweet 16 this season and amassed an 85-56 record at Ohio, will replace Bruce Weber in Champaign, ending the Illinois coaching search and confirming what many have expected since talks began heating up on Monday.
As of now, there is no solid information on what Groce's salary will be at Illinois. The Sun-Times is projecting the coach to make somewhere in the $1.5-to-$2 million range based on the $1.8 million salary of new head football coach Tim Beckman at Illinois. Groce made $355,000 this year, including bonuses.