The University of Illinois - Chicago trustees have approved a $200,000 annual raise and contract extension for basketball coach John Groce. The coach's salary has now been increased to $1.2 million a year and his renewed contract is now valid till April 2018.
Groce's first season as the head coach saw the Fighting Illini finish with 23 wins and defeat Colorado in the NCAA tournament before falling to Miami.
Groce's coaching abilities were hailed by the campus community as the current team did not do too well under former coach Bruce Weber in the 2011-12 season.
"We do look at the glass as half full," Groce said. "We just want to stay the course with the organization. This coaching staff has been together for five years (first at Ohio U., and then at Illinois). The people (the players) look at when there's adversity is the staff. Hopefully we taught the group something about basketball but also about life."
Groce said that the last season was a memorable one that included success against Gonzaga and the No. 1 Indiana at home, which is regarded as one of the season highlights.
"We can't swallow the poison of success," Groce said. "I was happy for the guys for staying the course."
Groce said that the last season wasn't a smooth ride. The team started the season with a 12-game winning streak and then suffered eight losses in 11 games, which was then succeeded by a five-game winning streak , bringing the total to 20 wins for Illini.
Then Illini succumbed to four losses in six games to end the regular season, but won their first game over Colorado to qualify for the tournament before losing to Miami by 4-points.
"It was a great feeling to get an opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament," Groce said. "The only better feeling is advancing in the NCAA tournament."
