Sports

Thad Matta Out As Buckeyes Head Coach

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Thad Matta will no longer coach the Ohio State Buckeyes basketball team.

The athletic director, Gene Smith, and Matta recently sat down for a conversation to discuss how to go forward with recruiting for the next season and after meeting they both realized they were not on the same page, according to ESPN.

They came to the realization that something between the two of them was not working like it used to and mutually agreed on making changes in the program. One of the changes included Matta no longer working as head coach after being with the team for more than a decade, the school announced on Monday.

Matta was previously an assistant coach for Butler and Miami (Ohio). He then returned to Butler as head coach for one season, and was head coach for Xavier for three seasons before taking the head coaching position for the Buckeyes. While coaching at Xavier, Matta led the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances consecutively, according to ESPN.

Matta also suffered from injuries during his time with the Buckeyes. He first went through an emergency back surgery during his early days with the Buckeyes and also suffered from nerve damage in his foot and wears a brace to help support him.

Matta led the Buckeyes to multiple NCAA tournament appearances including a national title game against Florida in 2007.

Ohio State will uphold Matta’s final three years of his contract.

Hannah Simmons