COLUMBUS – Ohio State is making a major change to its men’s basketball program.
Thad Matta is out after 13 seasons on the Buckeyes’ sideline, saying he and the school had come to a mutual agreement. Matta cited his health as a factor in the decision after being bothered by chronic back problems for years.
Matta Data
Two NCAA Final Four Appearances (2007, 2012)
Three NCAA Elite Eight Appearances
Five NCAA Sweet Sixteen Appearances
Seven Big Ten Tournament Title Game Appearances
Nine NCAA Tournament Appearances
10 NBA Draft Picks
11 First Team All-Big Ten Selections
150 Big Ten Regular-Season Wins
216 Home Wins (most nationally from 2005-2017)
-Source: OSU Athletics Dept.
Athletic director Gene Smith said Ohio State’s recruiting was hindered by Matta’s health problems.
“We weren’t winning the battles in recruiting that I thought we might have a chance to win as [Matta] did,” Smith told reporters.
Matta holds the school record for wins (337) and games coached (460) and his teams won at least 20 games in each of Matta’s first 12 years at the school, also a record, but the Buckeyes went just 17-15 last season and missed the NCAA playoffs for the second consecutive spring.
Matta won five regular-season Big Ten titles, captured four league tournaments and made two Final Four appearances with OSU.
A national search for the next Ohio State head coach will begin immediately.