Thad Matta Fired as THE Ohio State Basketball Coach
Thad Matta is dismissed as Buckeye men’s basketball coach on Monday
Not just any Ohio State, but THE Ohio State (OSU) is now in the market for a new head men’s basketball coach. Head Coach Thad Matta was fired by OSU on Monday after the Buckeyes went just 38-29 with 0 NCAA Tournament bids in the last two seasons.
Most coaching changes occur much earlier in the off-season so as to give the new regime a jump-start on recruiting. Of course, Wisconsin fans have acclimated to mistimed departures given how Dick Bennett and Bo Ryan abruptly ended their time in Madison.
According to Sports Illustrated, the coaching change was not Matta’s idea (I mean, yeah) but a combination of disappointing recent results and some health challenges prompted the switch. Although for legal purposes I would imagine the Buckeyes would like you to focus only on the results thing.
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"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."
Matta was the second-longest tenured coach in the Big Ten with 13 seasons in Columbus.
Prior to his time with the Buckeyes, he coached Butler for a season before three seasons at Xavier. Matta has a career 439-154 record good for a .740 winning percentage.
"Matta, 49, is the all-time wins leader at Ohio State (337), reached two Final Fours and sprouted a coaching tree that includes Brad Stevens, Sean Miller and Archie Miller."
He made the NCAA Tournament nine times at THE Ohio State getting to a pair of Final Fours. Matta won a share of five Big Ten regular season titles and four conference tournament titles. Led by formidable freshman Greg Oden and Mike Conley, he steered the Buckeyes to the national title game in 2007 where they got dispatched by a loaded Florida Gators team.
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Sports Illustrated runs down some of the possible replacement for Matta. Naturally, a Miller brother, Wichita State’s Greg Marshall, and Shaka Smart make the list which seems to be the case for every big-name opening in the last several years.
The Buckeyes do have Dave Dickerson as its Associate Head Coach who could be the Columbus version of Greg Gard. Dickerson has been with THE Ohio State for seven seasons so he doesn’t have the long history under Matta that Gard had with Bo Ryan. Dickerson also spent nine years with Gary Williams at Maryland.
Unless they can wrangle Smart or Marshall, the Buckeyes would be wise to let Dickerson be caretaker and try and earn the full-time job. Similar to what Wisconsin did with Gard although not identical in circumstances due to timing. Whatever they do, the Buckeyes need to move quickly to not lose any more ground in recruiting. Lebron James’ kid is only 12 and there’s no certainty the one-and-done rule will still be in effect in six years.