In somewhat of a surprising development, Ohio State has reportedly parted ways with head coach Chris Holtmann.
In four of Holtmann’s first five years with the Buckeyes, Ohio State made the NCAA Tournament (Year 3 was canceled due to the global pandemic). However, the program has underachieved relative to expectations over the last two years.
In 2022-23, Ohio State went 16-19 — including a 5-15 record in conference play. The Buckeyes have gone 14-11 thus far in 2023-24. However, the team has a 4-10 record and would be unlikely to make the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. Ohio State has lost 9 of its last 11 games.
When Holtmann first came to Ohio State, many believed he was among the best young coaches in the game. He took Butler to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. This included a Sweet 16 spot in 2016-17. However, in Columbus, Holtmann never got the Buckeyes past the first weekend of the Big Dance.
This is a job with some real cachet to it, not to mention solid funding and a wealth of resources. It’ll be interesting to see where Ohio State turns next.
