Thad Matta Out At Ohio State

[shadow force]

Thad Matta will no longer be the men's basketball coach at Ohio State, effective immediately, the university announced Monday.

Athletic director Gene Smith said a conversation between him and Matta led to the determination that a change was needed.

"I felt comfortable after the season when I sat down with Thad that we had a plan. [But] recruiting is a major part of it, and we weren't winning the recruiting battles," Smith said. "As we started talking about it Friday, the flow of the conversation took me to the realization as I said to him, 'This might be the time to make a leadership change,' and he agreed."

One source told ESPN that Matta wanted to keep coaching. At a news conference Monday, Matta said "never say never" to the possibility of him returning to the sideline.

Matta mentioned "trying to get healthy" as one reason for leaving the job. He has battled health issues for much of his time in Columbus, including emergency back surgery in 2007. He wears a brace on his right foot due to nerve damage.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

Thad Matta will no longer be the men's basketball coach at Ohio State, effective immediately, the university announced Monday.

Athletic director Gene Smith said a conversation between him and Matta led to the determination that a change was needed.

"I felt comfortable after the season when I sat down with Thad that we had a plan. [But] recruiting is a major part of it, and we weren't winning the recruiting battles," Smith said. "As we started talking about it Friday, the flow of the conversation took me to the realization as I said to him, 'This might be the time to make a leadership change,' and he agreed."

One source told ESPN that Matta wanted to keep coaching. At a news conference Monday, Matta said "never say never" to the possibility of him returning to the sideline.

Matta mentioned "trying to get healthy" as one reason for leaving the job. He has battled health issues for much of his time in Columbus, including emergency back surgery in 2007. He wears a brace on his right foot due to nerve damage.

Not a total surprise, but the timing is a surprise. IMO his inability to attract top recruits in recent years was his downfall. Time to bank the money, get healthy and head to a mid-major in the Midwest.

 

[RonsanJK]

Matta just had D'angelo Russell. I don't think Ohio St is that great of a basketball job. Maybe a top 20-25 at best really.

 

[shadow force]

Not a total surprise, but the timing is a surprise. IMO his inability to attract top recruits in recent years was his downfall. Time to bank the money, get healthy and head to a mid-major in the Midwest.

Yeah the timing is very bad for OSU. All the good coaching candidates are pretty much locked in at other jobs already. It's also too late for the new coach to do any recruiting.

Matta just had D'angelo Russell. I don't think Ohio St is that great of a basketball job. Maybe a top 20-25 at best really.

Right, I think the lack of post season success/results was a huge reason. He should take care of his health if he can right now.

 

[Cue Card]

Might as well go ahead and get this rumor started. You KNOW somebody is going to say it.

Pitino to OSU!!

 

[NothinButNylon]

Might as well go ahead and get this rumor started. You KNOW somebody is going to say it.

Pitino to OSU!!

Doubt we will hear that. But I have heard Tom Crean mentioned.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Doubt we will hear that. But I have heard Tom Crean mentioned.

If I'm Ohio St, I'm going after Butler's coach. If he is out, then I'm going for Buzz Williams.

 

[CommodoreCard]

Ohio $tate is an SEC type school in the Big 10+4.

Uban Meyer has their football sky high and their fanbase doesn't give a hoot about hoops anymore.

Did anyone on here go to the Final Four in New Orleans in 2012? Ohio State sold two whole uppper deck sections to Louisville. They couldn't even sell out their ticket allotment for a Final Four.

 

[BooneCo_Card]

Matta just had D'angelo Russell. I don't think Ohio St is that great of a basketball job. Maybe a top 20-25 at best really.

A OAD and he had Greg Oden..............years ago. Once considered a top 10 program through the 80's, it is not currently on anyone's radar. The arrogant ba$tards still refuse to play X, UC or Dayton despite the fact all three have surpassed them. The current predicament could not happen to a more deserving bunch.

 

[CardFanBudMan]

If I'm Ohio St, I'm going after Butler's coach. If he is out, then I'm going for Buzz Williams.

I would go after Mack, then those 2. Crean is an interesting name here, if only because he is available immediately.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

I assume their first choice is Miller out in AZ.

It's always interesting hearing the names thrown around, and then waiting for the result.

The timing is pretty much horrible.

 

[Cincycard80]

I heard yesterday from inside source at X that Mack was contacted by OSU in the amount of $5 Mil.

The sources seem to think that Mack is loyal to X and will not go.

You know, "He's not cut like that".

Go Cards, Go ACC
L1C4

 

[Strongtino]

This is just an absolutely atrocious move on the part of OSU. Its June! Who do they think they will get?

Ohio State is an elite level job. Its borderline top 10 and had they simply done this months ago like a normal program they probably could have gotten Archie to pick them over Indiana. Now? They're best bet is probably Chris Holtmann from Butler or if they get super lucky, maybe Chris Mack.

The idea that Sean Miller was going to leave Arizona is insane. The idea that Billy D was going to bolt back to college after two years of taking OKC to the playoffs was/is ridiculous.

They're best bet if they can't get an elite level replacement now would be to just use an interim coach and wait until next year and try again.

 

[CardFanBudMan]

Ohio State is an elite level job. Its borderline top 10

Easy now, easy ol' boy.

 

[Cue Card]

Easy now, easy ol' boy.

It's a good job but I certainly wouldn't place them in the top 10 best jobs. Top 20? Yes, I think so.

In no certain order and just off the top of my head, I would put UofL (yes I am a homer), UofK, Duke, UNC, Kansas, Syracuse, Indiana, UCLA, Oregon, Nova, Arizona, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Texas and Michigan above Ohio State as better jobs. I'm sure I'm missing a few that are better jobs too.

 

[Knucklehank1]

Reports are that Creighton's coach McDermott is a leading candidate. Would be underwhelming hire. Solid, but not elite.

 

[Strongtino]

It's a good job but I certainly wouldn't place them in the top 10 best jobs. Top 20? Yes, I think so.

In no certain order and just off the top of my head, I would put UofL (yes I am a homer), UofK, Duke, UNC, Kansas, Syracuse, Indiana, UCLA, Oregon, Nova, Arizona, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Notre Dame, Texas and Michigan above Ohio State as better jobs. I'm sure I'm missing a few that are better jobs too.

I would probably rank OSU somewhere around 10-12.

I would go: UNC, UK, KU, Duke, UL, Arizona, MSU, Texas, IU, UCLA, OSU, UF, Syracuse, Michigan, Maryland as my top 15...in that order and I'm not sure OSU isn't a better job than UCLA when you get right down to it.

But I would 1,000% rank the OSU job above Nova, Gonzga, ND, Syracuse. I read an article this week that said the majority of coaches rank it as the best job in the Big 10.

The OSU isn't "elite-elite"....its not that top tier...but I think for certain its in that next grouping.

 

[Cue Card]

The OSU isn't "elite-elite"....its not that top tier...

That much we can agree on. OSU has a ton of money thanks to football, so they have that going for them. I don't think they're the best job in the B1G. I would rank IU, Michigan, Michigan State, and Maryland as better basketball jobs in that conference. I could argue for Illinois and Purdue being better basketball jobs than OSU too.

It's all subjective. That much is for sure.

 

[Strongtino]

That much we can agree on. OSU has a ton of money thanks to football, so they have that going for them. I don't think they're the best job in the B1G. I would rank IU, Michigan, Michigan State, and Maryland as better basketball jobs in that conference. I could argue for Illinois and Purdue being better basketball jobs than OSU too.

It's all subjective. That much is for sure.

Based on a google search it looks like 247 just did a list, 2 days ago. They go...UK, UNC, KU, Duke, UL, MSU, Arizona, Texas, IU, OSU, UCLA, UF, Syracuse, Memphis, Michigan, Maryland, UNLV, Oklahoma, Wichita State, Oregon for their top 20. I can't really argue except that there's no way Memphis, UNLV, Wichita State or Oklahoma are better than places like Purdue, Illinois, Villanova, UConn.

http://247sports.com/Gallery/The-top-coaching-jobs-in-college-basketball-53056940

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

They've got one title, in 1960.

They are a good program. Those 11 FF's are impressive.

They are also a football school. They haven't had an elite coach during our lifetime because they aren't an elite program. Their next coach won't be elite either.

I do respect them immensely though.

 

[Cue Card]

They've got one title, in 1960.

They are a good program. Those 11 FF's are impressive.

They are also a football school. They haven't had an elite coach during our lifetime because they aren't an elite program. Their next coach won't be elite either.

I do respect them immensely though.

Yes, 11 final four appearances is impressive but it's really just 10. The 1999 final four was vacated. 8 happened between 1939 and 1968. Most people who post on this board weren't even born in 60's. They've had 2 final fours since 1969 and 0 titles.

Not a top tier job at all IMO.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Yes;11 final four appearances is impressive but it's really just 10. The 1999 final four has been vacated. 8 happend between 1939 and 1968. Most people who post on this board weren't even born in 60's. They've had 2 final fours since 1969 and 0 titles.

Not a top tier job at all IMO.

I feel they are a cut below MSU and IU. And nice work pointing out 8 of the 10 FFs happened prior to the 70s. Solid post Cue!

 

[Cue Card]

I feel they are a cut below MSU and IU. And nice work pointing out 8 of the 10 FFs happened prior to the 70s. Solid post Cue!

Thanks Hop. That means a lot coming from one of the better posters on this board. I appreciate it.