Thad Matta has done so much for Ohio State basketball that he truly deserves to leave on his own terms. Technically, on the surface level he has done exactly that, as he announced his resignation today, effective immediately.
In reality though, OSU Athletics Director Gene Smith essentially claimed responsibility for the decision. Matta, the all-time leader in wins (337) and games coached (460) in Ohio State history, announced that he’s stepping down at a news conference that he and Smith held today. During the session, Smith essentially said that recruiting woes are the reason a regime change has been made, which means Thad Matta was actually forced out.
The coach was under contract for three more years. His deal stated that he be paid a $650,000 bonus on April 30rd for still being employed. That is obviously a sunk cost now as Ohio State now begins their national search for his replacement. It obviously puts the program in a very tough spot as this is a very inopportune time to be seeking a new head basketball coach.
The program, certainly one of the most storied and definitely most accomplished in the B1G, has been on a downswing lately. The last four years have seen a sharp decline, with the last two bringing OSU to a lackluster place they hadn’t seen in a long while.
The Buckeyes were relegated to the NIT in 2016, and missed out on both the NCAA Tournament and the NIT this past March. Since 2014, Matta and his staff have failed to land a recruit ranked in the top 40.
However, it’s not just recruiting problems and a short downturn that has Matta out of a job today.
It’s his health too.
Matta has not been the same man since his back surgery was botched a decade ago, and clearly he is focusing on health and quality of life. That he is something he should be commended for. When Thad Matta and his team came to play at Northwestern the past couple seasons, he did not do a postgame press conference, because accessing the media room at Welsh-Ryan Arena requires climbing stairs.
Because of the condition of his back, Matta wasn’t able to ascend those steps, and you had to come to him for those media opportunities. A high stakes power five conference job can take a massive toll on a person who isn’t in 100% physical shape, and Matta has been suffering from surgery complications and foot issues for some time.
Thus, today’s news is a resignation that feels like a firing, or a firing encased in a reputation saving resignation, or some kind of resignation/firing hybrid or somewhere in between.
If Avril Lavigne were reporting this news, she would simply say “why did you have to go an make things to complicated?” Seeing Matta tear up at his farewell presser, it’s difficult to truly buy the idea that his decision to leave was voluntary.
Entering his final year at Ohio State, Thad Matta has led the Buckeyes to a 337-123 (73%) overall, 150-78 (66%) in the B1G record. Since taking over in Columbus beginning in 2004-05, he has led the Buckeyes to nine NCAA Tournaments, five Sweet Sixteens, three Elite 8s, two Final Fours and one national championship game appearance.
He also won four Big Ten tournaments.
His teams won at least 20 games in 12-consecutive seasons (2005-2016), also an Ohio State record. However, Matta leaves behind a very difficult situation. With only nine scholarship players on hand, they are one short of a full roster.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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