Ohio State Fires Head Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann
The Ohio State Buckeyes are making a major change on the hardwood.
Per a release from the school, the Buckeyes have fired head men's basketball coach Chris Holtmann in the midst of his seventh year with the team.
Ohio State associate head coach Jake Diebler will take over as the interim head coach.
Per his contract, Ohio State will owe Holtmann $12.8 million in buyout money.
"I want to express my appreciation toward Chris for the first-class program, and the well-respected program, he has run here at Ohio State," Buckeyes AD Gene Smith said. "He and his wife, Lori, are wonderful people. I thank each of them for their seven years here in Columbus and I wish them well."
Jake Diebler, associate head coach of the men's basketball team,
The Buckeyes, who have been struggling mightily over the last two seasons, have accumulated a 30-29 record and a 9-24 record in the Big Ten over that time.
Ohio State is also in the midst of a 16-game road losing streak, which has tied the longest such streak in program history - something Holtmann has attributed to inconsistencies and poise.
In his first five seasons with the Buckeyes, Holtmann had the Buckeyes rolling in the regular season, winning 25 games in Year 1, and at least 20 games over the next four. He also made the NCAA Tournament in five straight seasons but was never able to get past the Round of 32. The 2019-20 season's tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
However, somewhere along the way, that success was lost, leading to a 16-19 season in 2022-23 and the 14-10 start in 2023-24.
Now, the Buckeyes will begin the search for a new leader for the program - one that they hope can return them to the successful days of Thad Matta.
