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The Ohio State basketball program has parted ways with head coach Chris Holtmann. The decision comes amid a 14-11 campaign for the Buckeyes, who are eyeing their second straight season missing the NCAA Tournament.
Holtmann has been at the helm for six-and-a-half years after taking over in 2017. Prior, he’d spent three seasons at Butler and three at Gardner-Webb.
His tenure in Columbus began swimmingly as he led the program to five consecutive 20-win seasons. That included four Big Dance appearances – though his team never made it past the opening weekend.
After finishing 20-12 in 2021-22, Holtmann received an extension to stay with the Buckeyes through 2028. That deal also came with an annual pay raise.
Less than two years later, he’s out, and Ohio State is quickly feeling the repercussions of that contract adjustment.
The Buckeyes appear destined to watch another postseason on the couch after posting a losing season last year – the program’s first since ’03-04.
That downward trajectory signaled the end for Holtmann shortly after receiving that congratulatory pay bump.
And now Ohio State is paying the price.
By firing Chris Holtmann, Ohio State will owe him a buyout of about $14 million to no longer coach the Buckeyes’ basketball team. pic.twitter.com/NEtV4RToyf
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 14, 2024
The head coach is still owed roughly four years of pay at an annual value of $3.5 million.
Who fills Chris Holtmann’s shoes at Ohio State?
A candidate list has already surfaced with names like Lamont Paris and Greg McDermott considered front runners to get a call.
Big day for Lamont Paris and his agent.
— Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) February 14, 2024
Paris has the Gamecocks sitting at 21-3 in just his second season, ranked No. 11 in the AP Poll. An Ohio native, he’s familiar with Big Ten basketball dating back to his days as an assistant on the Wisconsin coaching staff.
Greg McDermott, meanwhile, has built a powerhouse at Creighton, nearly reaching the Final Four last year.
He was actually offered the Ohio State job in 2017, which he turned down. That eventually led to Chris Holtmann’s hiring, and ensuing firing.
Would the Buckeyes be brazened enough to offer again?
In the meantime, assistant coach Jake Diebler has been named interim head coach to serve out the remainder of the regular season.