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

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Thad Matta (Official Thread)

http://www.dispatch.com/bball/bball.php?story=dispatch/2005/03/09/20050309-D4-01.html

OSU signs Matta to eight-year deal
Coach could earn $11 million through incentives
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



Coach Thad Matta’s sales pitch to recruits — especially those on hand Sunday — gained legitimacy when the Ohio State men’s basketball team upset undefeated and No. 1-ranked Illinois in a loud and sold-out Value City Arena.

Matta gained more credence with them yesterday when, eight months after taking the job, he signed an eight-year contract worth more than $11 million in guaranteed income if he serves the length of it. Incentive bonuses worth $290,000 annually and, in some cases, additional years on the contract add more value to the package.

Competitors no longer can plant seeds of doubt in prospects’ heads that Matta, who left Butler after one year and Xavier after three, might not stay at Ohio State for long if the NCAA penalizes the basketball program more harshly than the university expects. Questions abounded while Matta put off signing the deal after accepting the job July 7.

Matta, 37, confirmed yesterday that he had signed the deal.

He received a $350,000 signing bonus and guaranteed compensation this season worth $760,000. He could add $40,000 and one year to the contract if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Tournament this weekend in Chicago. They play Penn State in the first round Thursday.

Over the eight years of the contract, which expires in 2012, Matta is due:



• $2.315 million in salary;



• $2.78 million for fulfilling media, promotional and public-relations responsibilities;



• $2.69 million from Ohio State’s apparel, shoe and equipment contract with Nike;



• at least $400,000 for the program’s summer camps;



• $80,000 in appearance fees from a soft-drink manufacturer.

The contract also provides $2.55 million in deferred compensation if he fulfills all eight years.

Perks other than incentive bonuses include two automobiles, 30 season tickets for basketball and 12 for football, and private aircraft for recruiting trips and 10 hours of personal use.

The contract also provides Matta an annual window — from the end of the regular season until April 15 each year — to discuss or negotiate a job with another school or professional team, as long as he notifies the OSU athletics director beforehand. It would cost Matta $500,000 to buy himself out of his contract if he takes another job.

The university agreed to begin negotiating a three-year contract extension in May 2007, after Matta’s third season.

Also at that time, if Ohio State is ranked among the top 16 in either poll at the end of the 2006-07 season, or a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament that year, Matta can request his compensation package be renegotiated so that it ranks among those of the 12 highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

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Its a relief to finally have the contract issue resolved, so the program can move on, it has been a great week for the OSU basketball program, the win vs #1 Illinois and now the resolution of Coach Matta's contract. The length of the contract is a very good thing for recruiting.
 
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Based on what he's done so far, here's hoping he's still around after the 8 years are done. I would have said I hope he signs a new contract after this one's up, but he'll probably be extended periodically so that he's always signed for at least 5 years into the future, for recruiting purposes.
 
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BuckeyeBill73 said:
Based on what he's done so far, here's hoping he's still around after the 8 years are done. I would have said I hope he signs a new contract after this one's up, but he'll probably be extended periodically so that he's always signed for at least 5 years into the future, for recruiting purposes.
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OSU can pay him as much as anyplace so there shouldn't be any money issues for other school.
 
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Thad Matta and his recruiting efforts

Thad Matta is hot right now. He has the momentum and he is displaying a tireless effort to land some of the top prospects in the nation for the 2006 class.

We are seeing a different atmosphere and philosphy in the basketball program. From the moment Matta took over, he felt that OSU was a "sleeping giant" that he was going to awaken. In just his first season, we witnessed a sub .500 team win 20+ games, including a win over the #1 team in the nation at the time. He is a hard worker and a very positive coach, but it is his intensity that sets him apart.

The staff came in late during the 05 recruiting season and had a lot of ground to make-up in a short period of time and did a great job of landing Brayden Bell out of Utah and signing Sylvester Mayes from the JUCO ranks, who is considered one of the top junior college players. In addition, Ronald Lewis transferred in from Bowling Green and that completed his first class at OSU. Really not a bad start under the circumstances. All three players will make an impact on the team in 2005-2006 season.

The one thing about Thad Matta and his staff is the fact that he wins...period. He has done it at the mid major level and now is at OSU and when he is given all the support and draw of OSU...the sky is the limit. Matta is now targeting the 2006 and 2007 classes and he is having great success attracting the top players to OSU.

We have a verbal from Cook and sources are saying Lighty might not be that far behind. Conley is the key to this class and many people feel that OSU has made up so much ground on Wake in the last few months that OSU is the odds on favorite at this point for his services. Oden will go where Conley goes, its no secret to anyone close to the situation. Both of these prospects will be visiting in May and that key. Just a few years ago, most of us would have never thought we could attract two of the top five players nationally to OSU for a visit. Times have changed and Thad Matta's approach to recruiting is the key. He simply out works other coaches.

Matta has completely changed the perception of OSU basketball during a time when as a program we are facing possible NCAA sancations and just finished a season on a self imposed one year ban from the post season! The scoop is that Matta has made tremendous strides with some of the top prospects in the 2006, 07 and 08 classes, this is key considering the next three years, the talent level out of Ohio is deep.

The next few months are key to the 2006 class and Matta is sitting pretty good right now and I have a feeling there are better things to come. People around recruiting are starting to say watch out for OSU and you hear OSU being mentioned by some of the top prospects in the nation.

Here is my humble opinion on where we stand right now with some of the top prospects in the 2006 class.....

David Lighty... 70%
Mike Conley....55%
Greg Oden......50%
Thaddues Young...25%
Josh Chichester.....60%....if we offer.
Luke Harangody....45%
Raymar Morgan.....55%..if we offer (possible grades)
 
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The first thing I heard about how very intense on winning and perorming to our highest possiblities, was when reading a Dispatch article. It talked about his "5 for 5" program. If a student messes up (ie. Misses class) he has them run 5 miles for the next 5 days (outside of practice). He also slimmed Dials and a few others down by making them run more if their body fat percentage wasnt to his set percentage wanted. Stuff like this shows how bad he wants it in the end and how hard he is willing to push the players to make them want it as well.
 
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