CHAMPAIGN — If you don’t know much about John Groce you at least know two things: He loves coffee, and he’s a high-energy guy.
So it goes without saying that Illinois’ fourth-year basketball coach is excited to have Illini basketball great Dee Brown, who today begins his new job as special assistant to athletic director Mike Thomas, back in the athletic department.
And it’s not only because Brown was an All-American player and continues to be a great ambassador for the university, even during his professional career in the NBA and overseas.
Brown and Groce also share similar temperaments.