SoutheasternOhioPreps.com

There were a slew of events that didn't look good for Ohio State basketball over the last couple of years... It looks like it finally caught up to him...


Via Sports Illustrated:

Thad Matta will not return as the Ohio State head basketball coach for the 2017-18 season, the university announced.

"While this may be a surprise to many, it's the right thing for our program at this time," athletic director Gene Smith said.

Matta reportedly wanted to keep coaching but has come to terms with Smith's decision.

Matta previously underwent back surgery that left him without a fully-functioning right foot and back complications. He has not ruled out coaching again but told reporters that he is focused on his health and family.

He just finished his 13th season with the Buckeyes. Last year's team missed the NCAA tournament after finishing 17–15. It was Matta's first Ohio State team not to win at least 20 games.

Matta and Ohio State reached the Final Four in 2007 and 2012. He won five Big Ten conference championships and four conference tournament wins.

Matta has a career 439–154 coaching record from his days with Ohio State, Xavier and Butler. He won 337 games with the Buckeyes.

Ohio State has started its search for Matta's successor.

Sure leaves getting a good coach from other schools. Matta has not done much in the last few years.

Wow, I thought he had another year but pretty evident it wasn't going in the right direction. Says you have to make the tournament every year if you are tOSU coach. Are they unrealistic in their expectations? Who now?

It is a Top 10 program and it hasn't been for the past 2-3 years.

Bad timing unless they can get a monster of a home run hire.

Gene Smith has now fired 2 major coaches, both with tremendously poor timing.

Matta does leave with the best winning percentage of any coach in the Big Ten, that coached for more than 10 seasons.

The timing of this was pretty bad, after other schools swooped in and hired the good young coaches.

Good decision, bad timing. Given the player defections after the season and recruiting woes, it was obvious a change was needed. The timing will make it difficult to make a "name" hire. Then again, basketball is not the lifeblood of Ohio State athletics. Matta won 73.2% of his games as Buckeye head coach, thus deserves our prayers for return to good health and future success.

Good decision for OSU. Recruiting and effort of the players has been really bad for the past few years. Last year's team looked like they could care less and played little defense.

Add in the Lyle issue, not making any tournament last year.....this is the right move although I agree with everyone else that it should have been done earlier.

OSU has the money to go after whoever they want. Plenty of coaches out there who can be lured in with dollar bills.

And lets not feel too bad for Matta....he is loaded. Last year he was the highest paid OSU staff member at $5 mill a year. Well above even Urban.

With his medical issues he would be best to ride off into the sunset and enjoy a tropical paradise.

I don't understand the timing of this. They had a heart to heart talk after the season was over so why wasn't a decision made then ? Unless it had something to do with the best player in Ohio next year decommitting in April ? Some people think Smith already know who he is getting and they think it could be Billy Donovan.

Billy Donovan would be a great hire. He could instantly turn a few recruits around and have a quicker impact to the program than some up and coming MAC coach or another coach who hasnt proven himself on a big stage yet.

OSU has no issue opening its wallet for football. This will tell how they view the basketball program and the success they want from it.

I saw the President from Arizona said in an interview today that Ohio State would get Sean Miller "over his dead body"

Chieftain2009 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2017 3:28 pm I saw the President from Arizona said in an interview today that Ohio State would get Sean Miller "over his dead body"

If it comes down to a spending contest, that SOB is already dead.

Just saw that Ohio State is meeting with Creighton's Doug McDermott.

Chieftain2009 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2017 9:15 pm Just saw that Ohio State is meeting with Creighton's Doug McDermott.

Saw they offered him the job. Which may or may not be true. As some media people tend to think they get a jump on everyone else. But I did read they wanted a Coach by Friday. I do not like taken a coach from another school this time of the year.

farmer wrote: ↑Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:50 am

Chieftain2009 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 07, 2017 9:15 pm Just saw that Ohio State is meeting with Creighton's Doug McDermott.

Saw they offered him the job. Which may or may not be true. As some media people tend to think they get a jump on everyone else. But I did read they wanted a Coach by Friday. I do not like taken a coach from another school this time of the year.

McDermott declined the OSU offer today.

Lol, great job by Gene Smith. OSU getting turned down by a coach who has never reached a Sweet 16. Greg McDermott is a decent enough Coach, but this is embarrassing.

Some college coaches may not want to leave their college and players at this time of the year. As well as everyone on his staff who may not be going with them and who may not have a job for next season. Also the camps at the school during the summer.
Which coaches in the NBA do not have to worry about. Mike Brown is being mentioned since he is from Columbus and Fred Hoiberg from the Bulls. He is not working out with the Bulls and was alright at Iowa State. Also Billy Donavan from OKC with the Russel Westbrook mess.
Maybe making Chris Jent Interim Coach. Then revaluate after the season.

Also Chris Jent was LeBron James shootin coach when he first got to the Cavs. They were good friends. Lebron's sons will need a college. LeBron is big on
Ohio State and may have enfluence

Ohio state is going to have to hit a home run, Bent I don't think is the answer Hoiberg is not leaving the Bulls. Mike Brown could be a good fit, but will he leave the Warriors knowing Kerr could have to step down again and he done a great job while Kerr was sidelined during the playoffs.

If the Bucks stay in house for the season coming up why not try looking at Greg Paulus, good basketball mind. I just can't see the Bucks taking a college coach away from a program this late so its either a hire from within, NBA coach, or college coach who is without a job.