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UPDATE Groce takes Illinois Coaching Job

Posted: $util.date("h:mm a MMM d, yyyy",$story.contentLiveDate,$timeZone)
Reporter: Associated Press

(AP) - Illinois has made it official: John Groce is the new men's basketball coach of the Illini.

Groce has spent the past four seasons at Ohio, where he led the
Bobcats to an 85-56 overall record and a run to the Sweet 16 of
this year's NCAA tournament. He calls his move to the Big Ten
school a "once in lifetime opportunity."

Groce replaces Bruce Weber, who was fired earlier this month
after nine seasons. The Illini were 17-15 and suffered through a
2-12 collapse that sealed Weber's fate.

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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 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.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)