End of an Era for the Ohio State Basketball Program

A terrific time to follow Ohio State basketball.

Thad Matta’s tenure as head coach of the Ohio State basketball team came to an end today. That ends one of the best eras in the program’s history.

Evidently it was a mutual decision between Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith and coach Matta. Here are quotes from Smith and Matta as reported in an article by Tim Shoemaker of Eleven Warriors.

"“We came to a mutual understanding, and it was time for a change in the basketball program,” Smith said. “This may be a surprise to me. I think it’s the right thing for our program at the right time.”“Obviously, this has been probably the greatest 13 years of my life,” Matta said, his voice shaking. “Looking around here, seeing all these fans and what all the guys have been able to accomplish. Thinking of my wife, my two daughters. They’ve been with me at the top and at the bottom.”“I thank Gene Smith, Dr. Drake, Buckeye Nation. They have been incredible,” he continued. “I know how hard the conversation has that we had, but I completely understand it. We mutually agreed to do this.”"

This situation seemed inevitable with the Buckeyes missing the NCAA tournament two successive years, and not even being invited to play in the NIT last season. It was also the first time a Thad Matta coached team failed to win 20 games in a season.

Although going in a different direction may be the best thing for the Ohio State basketball program in the long-term, it’s still sad to see the Thad Matta era come to an end. After all, the head coach made the Buckeyes relevant again on the hardcourt.

For those who don’t remember the state of OSU basketball pre-facebook, it wasn’t exactly a good situation. After many years of problems, with a few successes mixed in, the program was a mess. In coach Matta’s first year Ohio State was ineligible to play in the postseason but he still led his team to a 20-12 record.

The following season the Buckeyes won their first Big Ten title in 14 years going 26-6. Then coach Matta recruited the “Thad Five” and they made it to the National Championship Game as freshmen.

Many successful seasons followed and Ohio State was considered a contender to win the Big Ten championship nearly every season with coach Matta at the helm. And rightfully so.

During his tenure, the Buckeyes were Big Ten Tournament champions four times and won the regular season title five times. Coach Matta’s teams made the “Final Four” twice in nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament. That to go along with an NIT championship as well.

Maybe coach Thad Matta leaving the Ohio State basketball program may be the best for all concerned, but it leads one to wonder how things will move forward. But here is what I do know.

In his 13 seasons coaching the Ohio State basketball team, coach Matta amassed a 337-123 record. He also made the Buckeyes relevant in the Big Ten, and respected nationally, on the hardcourt for the first time in many years.

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Now the Thad Matta era has come to an end. Whoever replaces coach Matta will have big shoes to fill.