In 2013, Groninger won the national Rinus Michels Award for his coaching of Be Quick 1887.

Following his achievements that season, on 10 May 2013 Groninger received the Rinus Michels Award as best coach in Dutch amateur soccer.

With HHC Hardenberg, Groninger caused havoc when his team beat NEC Nijmegen from the Eredivisie in eight finals of the 2015–16 KNVB Cup.

Subsequently, in its first KNVB Cup quarter finals ever, HHC Hardenberg lost 1–0 to AZ Alkmaar.

[11][12][13][14] In August 2020, he served as caretaker coach after Erwin van de Looi was promoted to the staff of the senior team.