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Ohio’s Groce hired at Illinois

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — An official at the University of Illinois is confirming that the school has hired Ohio coach John Groce (GROHS) as its next men’s basketball coach.

The official said Groce will be introduced at a news conference Thursday afternoon in Champaign. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because Groce’s hire hadn’t been official announced.

Groce replaces Bruce Weber, who was fired earlier this month.

Groce has been at Ohio, a Mid-American Conference school, since 2008. He led the Bobcats to the NCAA tournament twice, including a run to the Sweet 16 this year that ended with an overtime loss to North Carolina.

The Illini finished this season 17-15 after a 2-12 collapse at the end of the season.

Illinois targeting Ohio’s John Groce

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ESPN – Ohio coach John Groce continues to be the top focus for the Illinois search, but a deal has not been struck. A number of sources close to Groce said the two sides are negotiating. Groce spent Tuesday morning calling close confidants about the Illinois job and was prepared to accept if offered. But according to an Illinois spokesperson, athletic director Mike Thomas has reiterated the process is not over and there is no set timeline on hiring a coach. The spokesperson said Illinois will not rush into this decision, despite pressure to get a deal done after public rejections from VCU’s Shaka Smart and Butler’s Brad Stevens.