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Thad Matta (3x B1G COY, OSU's All Time Winningest Coach, HC Butler)

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Former Ohio State Basketball Coach Thad Matta Retires After Four Seasons at Butler

Former Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta announces his retirement after a four-year return to coaching at Butler.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

Former Ohio State Basketball Coach Thad Matta Retires After Four Seasons at Butler​

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Thad Matta is concluding his coaching career.

The former Ohio State basketball coach announced his retirement from coaching on Monday following a four-year return to coaching at Butler. Matta will remain with Butler, his alma mater, as a special assistant to the university president and athletic director.

"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a news release by Butler. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can. My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the Big East and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.”



Matta ends his coaching career with a 502-223 record over 21 seasons as a head coach, earning his 500th win in February. Thirteen of those seasons were at Ohio State. The winningest coach in Ohio State basketball history, Matta went 337-123 with the Buckeyes, leading Ohio State to a national championship game appearance, two Final Fours, three Elite Eights, five Sweet 16s and nine total NCAA Tournament appearances.

Let go by Ohio State after the 2016-17 season, Matta took five years off from coaching before returning to the sideline in 2022 at Butler, where he started his head coaching career in 2000 after multiple stints as an assistant. Matta was unable to recapture his previous success in his second stint at Butler, however, going just 63-69 across four seasons.
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ScriptOhio said:
www.elevenwarriors.com

Former Ohio State Basketball Coach Thad Matta Retires After Four Seasons at Butler

Former Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta announces his retirement after a four-year return to coaching at Butler.
www.elevenwarriors.com www.elevenwarriors.com

Former Ohio State Basketball Coach Thad Matta Retires After Four Seasons at Butler​

161911_h.jpg


Thad Matta is concluding his coaching career.

The former Ohio State basketball coach announced his retirement from coaching on Monday following a four-year return to coaching at Butler. Matta will remain with Butler, his alma mater, as a special assistant to the university president and athletic director.

"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a news release by Butler. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can. My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the Big East and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.”



Matta ends his coaching career with a 502-223 record over 21 seasons as a head coach, earning his 500th win in February. Thirteen of those seasons were at Ohio State. The winningest coach in Ohio State basketball history, Matta went 337-123 with the Buckeyes, leading Ohio State to a national championship game appearance, two Final Fours, three Elite Eights, five Sweet 16s and nine total NCAA Tournament appearances.

Let go by Ohio State after the 2016-17 season, Matta took five years off from coaching before returning to the sideline in 2022 at Butler, where he started his head coaching career in 2000 after multiple stints as an assistant. Matta was unable to recapture his previous success in his second stint at Butler, however, going just 63-69 across four seasons.
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He needs to be in the Ohio State Hall of Fame no later than next year. The ultimate unicorn in Ohio State basketball history and the era that every coach who will be at Ohio State will be measured by going forward.
 
Upvote 1

Ohio State Honors Thad Matta, Program's All-Time Winningest Head Coach, During Halftime Of Exhibition Game Vs. Butler​

By Lyle Alenstein on October 25, 2026 at 5:09 pm
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Ohio State honored its all-time winningest coach during its final exhibition game of the year.
Thad Matta, who coached at Ohio State from 2004-17 and boasted a 337-123 record with the scarlet and gray, was honored during halftime at the Schottenstein Center as the Buckeyes faced Butler in their final preseason tune-up, where they grabbed an 82-73 win.
During his on-court speech to the crowd at the Schottenstein Center, Matta described his time at Ohio State as “13 of the greatest years of my life.”
“It's funny, when you leave a place like Ohio State and you're trying to explain it to people that aren’t familiar with Ohio State, just the power and the magnitude of this university, and it starts with the fans, and what you guys do for this program,” Matta said.
In an emotional moment, Matta also revealed that JJ Sullinger recently donated a kidney to his former Ohio State teammate Terence Dials, who were both a part of Matta’s first two teams at OSU.

In an emotional moment, Thad Matta revealed that JJ Sullinger recently donated a kidney to his former Ohio State teammate Terence Dials. “Maybe the greatest thing that I’ve ever seen in my coaching career ... that’s what coaching is about.” https://t.co/s7NnIeUmXT
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 25, 2026
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Matta was previously the head coach at Butler from 2000-01 and again from 2022-26 before retiring earlier this year, making Sunday’s exhibition the perfect time for Ohio State to bring the legendary coach back to Columbus for an on-court recognition.
"Thad's a mentor of mine. I remember deciding to leave an assistant coaching position at my alma mater, Valpo, to come take a video coordinator position (at Ohio State) for Thad. And the purpose of it was to grow and learn," Jake Diebler said Thursday on 97.1 The Fan. "I admired and got to see just up close and in person how Thad connected with his players. And I think that was his secret sauce, his ability to bond with guys and build those strong relationships. And that was something that always stuck with me the rest of my career."
Jake's brother Jon, who played for the Buckeyes from 2007-11 under Matta, is also an assistant coach for Butler. So as the brothers discussed the possibility of playing each other in an exhibition game before the season, they also talked about how they could honor Matta in the process.

Ohio State Bests Butler, 82-73, In Final Preseason Exhibition Game Of The Year
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Ohio State Bests Butler, 82-73, In Final Preseason Exhibition Game Of The Year​

Ohio State got in the win column to conclude its preseason exhibitions, winning 82-73 over Butler in its final tune-up before starting the regular season on Nov. 2 against BYU.
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"My brother and I got on the phone this summer. We were talking about what each team was doing exhibition-wise. And he was like, 'Hey, we would love to play you guys.' I'm like, 'OK, that's a game that makes sense,' and Big East team. And we were talking like, 'Oh, we should make it like the Thad Matta Bowl,' and honor him and bring him back," Jake said. "So it kind of grew from a conversation that Jon and I had. Obviously, Thad's played a huge role in both of our lives. And it's right to honor him getting his 500th victory this past season. And certainly he's been a part of some of the best stretches in recent Ohio State basketball history. And I'm looking forward to having him in the Schott again."
In 13 seasons as Ohio State’s coach, Matta led the Buckeyes to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, five regular-season Big Ten titles and four Big Ten Tournament titles. He was a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year and brought Ohio State to a pair of Final Fours.


 
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