Report: Groce to take Ohio job

Jun 26, 2008 - 3:31 PM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Ohio State assistant John Groce is expected to accept the head coaching job at Ohio, Fox Sports reported Thursday.

According to the report, Groce, 36, has agreed to a deal in principle. He would fill the only remaining Division I coaching vacancy and replace Tim O'Shea, who resigned last week to take the job at Division II Bryant.

A native of Massachusetts, O'Shea signed an eight-year contract at Bryant because he wanted to return to New England.

Regarding as one of the top young assistants in the country, Groce was on Thad Motta's staff at Xavier, then followed Matta to Ohio State in 2004. Groce also served as an assistant under Herb Sendek at North Carolina State.

Last season, the Bobcats finished 20-13 under O'Shea, garnering a berth in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational.