Brothers Coach Akron and Miami to NCAA Tournament Glory

The NCAA Tournament will feature both the Akron Zips and the Miami RedHawks this year, marking a historic moment for the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Both teams received bids during “Selection Sunday” on March 15, 2024, an occasion made even more special as the head coaches of these teams are brothers: John Groce of Akron and Travis Steele of Miami. This is the first time since 1999 that the MAC has secured two spots in the NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Groce expressed his emotional reaction to the news during a watch party at Rhodes Arena. “Unbelievable,” he said, reflecting on the significance of the moment. “I thought back when they put both the names of the teams on [the bracket]. I had a lot more hair then.” He reminisced about their shared experiences, from coaching AAU teams to shooting hoops in their backyard. “I’m proud of what he’s built there, and they have a very, very good team.”

Akron, seeded No. 12, is set to face No. 5 Texas Tech in a first-round matchup scheduled for 12:40 p.m. on March 20 in Tampa. The game will be broadcast on truTV. Miami, receiving a No. 11 seed, will compete against Southern Methodist University (SMU) in the First Four, with their game slated for 9:15 p.m. on March 18 in Dayton. The winner will then advance to play No. 6 Tennessee at 4:25 p.m. on March 20, also in Philadelphia.

For Groce, this marks his seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach, a journey that includes two trips with Ohio, one with Illinois, and four with Akron. Steele, on the other hand, will lead his team into March Madness for the first time, a milestone he has eagerly anticipated. “I was so happy for him and his entire family,” Groce stated. “Special, special moment. Unique. Obviously, it’s really unique that we’re brothers in the same league.”

Akron (29-5, 17-1) has made the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive years. They secured their spot by defeating Toledo 79-76 on March 14, becoming the first MAC men’s team to win the conference tournament three times in a row. This victory granted them an automatic bid to March Madness. Meanwhile, Miami (31-1, 18-0) entered the MAC Tournament as the top seed but faced a surprising upset, losing 87-83 to No. 8 UMass in the first round on March 12. Despite this setback, Miami earned an at-large bid, marking the first time since Wally Szczerbiak led the team to the Sweet 16 in 1999 that the RedHawks will be in the tournament.

The family connections run deep for the Zips as well. Brothers Evan and Eric Mahaffey are on Akron’s roster and expressed enthusiasm for their coaches. “It’s really cool,” Evan remarked. “Two brothers playing and two brothers coaching is pretty exciting, too. I imagine their family’s pretty excited to see them doing that.”

Groce commended the competitive spirit of the MAC this season. “Toledo was playing lights out late in the year,” he noted, acknowledging their strong performance leading into the tournament. Groce also highlighted the strength of the top teams in the conference: “Miami, Akron, and Kent combined lost five [conference] games. I mean, that’s ridiculous. [It’s a] great year for the MAC and really a good thing for the MAC.”

Despite the pressure that comes with tournament selection, Groce remained calm about the possibilities. “My mother probably was [nervous], for sure,” he joked. “But my hunch was that [both of us making] it was going to happen. Fortunately, it did.”

In their only matchup this season, Akron fell to Miami 76-73 on January 3. Should both teams advance deep into the tournament, they would not meet again until the Elite Eight.

As the tournament approaches, the excitement surrounding the Groce and Steele families highlights a unique narrative in college basketball, one that not only showcases the talent of the teams but also the bonds of family that enhance the experience.