There is no doubt that one of the greatest coaches in the history of Ohio State basketball is Thad Matta. Matta is the winningest coach in program history. His name is in the rafters of the Schott, which is where it should be. Even after a rough finish to his tenure with the Buckeyes, he'll forever be beloved.
Matta decided to hang it up a second time, as he has retired from his job at Butler. He will remain with the school in a different role, but he will no longer coach the basketball team. Matta has made a significant impact on every player that he has coached.
One of his former players, JJ Sullinger, was one of the first players that Matta coached with the Buckeyes. He told an incredible story about Matta when he first got the job with the Ohio State Buckeyes and why he is one of the guys he will always ride for.
JJ Sullinger tells great story about former Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta
After news of his retirement dropped, Sullinger took to social media to tell a very heartwarming story of how he never gave up on him. He would go on to talk about how the athletic director wanted Sullinger off the team, but Matta kept him on and believed in him enough to give him a second chance.
Matta's ability to love his players as people and not just basketball players is one of the reasons why so many of his players played hard for him. They all loved him as he loved them, which is exactly what a coach is supposed to do. Sullinger isn't the only player to have stories like this, either.
The Buckeyes love what Matta was able to do for the basketball program. Not only did he win a lot of games while he was the head coach, but he also put the university more on the map, as well. He had a fantastic coaching career.