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

[Buckskin86]

Rob Oller commentary: So Matta's not a good coach, huh? Baloney
Thursday, March 11, 2010
By Rob Oller
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Golf retirees being experts on everything - just ask them - Jim Matta can't escape hearing his son's coaching abilities analyzed every which way while carting from hole to hole as a golf course ranger in South Carolina.

Most of the opinions are positive, but every so often the same bothersome backhanded compliment surfaces. It typically rises from the undercurrent, an observation that, "Your son is one heck of a recruiter."

There is nothing negative about the comment itself. It is the unspoken addendum that sours the otherwise encouraging word. The implication is that Thad Matta's strength is in getting talent to Ohio State, not coaching it upon arrival.

"We laugh about it," Jim Matta said, "we" being father and son.

Beneath the laughter, however, lies a wisp of annoyance. After Ohio State defeated Illinois last week to earn a share of the Big Ten title - Matta's third in five seasons - Jim's boy addressed his growth as a coach.

"I think I'm doing all right," he said. "I know this: I'm a great recruiter, according to everybody."

Rob Oller commentary: So Matta's not a good coach, huh? Baloney | BuckeyeXtra

 

[CHU]

Regardless of how the rest of the Big Ten Tournament goes for the Buckeyes (knocking on wood), I'm happy that the Big Ten Network had/has cameras there for "The Journey" episode next Wednesday, especially after Turner's game-winner.

Even more, I hope they had a camera close enough to coach Matta after the game (even though I doubt they'd air the scene if there was cursing since I don't recall the show ever bleeping anything).

 

[Kwas]

Regardless of how the rest of the Big Ten Tournament goes for the Buckeyes (knocking on wood), I'm happy that the Big Ten Network had/has cameras there for "The Journey" episode next Wednesday, especially after Turner's game-winner.

Even more, I hope they had a camera close enough to coach Matta after the game (even though I doubt they'd air the scene if there was cursing since I don't recall the show ever bleeping anything).

Same, that was the most entertaining part of the post-game stuff for me...Matta was perfectly calm if you watch him during that last play...after that, the cameras cut to Turner, then next thing you know, Matta's screaming at the Michigan bench! Bad. Ass.

 

[NUTS4theBUCKS28]

i wonder what coach matta was sayin to those scumbags at the other side of the floor after turner hit that three......

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

i wonder what coach matta was sayin to those scumbags at the other side of the floor after turner hit that three......

"Beilein... YOU are my Rich Rod! Suck it, bitch!"

 

[leroyjenkins]

i wonder what coach matta was sayin to those scumbags at the other side of the floor after turner hit that three......

I dont think Matta was talking to the scUM bench at all. I think he was yelling to the scorer's table to count the basket, as his hand geustures would suggest.

 

[Buckskin86]

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THAD MATTA
Mar 13, 2010

Welcome back to yet another edition of UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. It is finally back after a very long hiatus. This weeks special guest is the one and only Thad Matta head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Yours truly has been on a very limited blogging schedule the past few months for personal reasons. Things are getting better and I'm going to return to be more active on TSN. I'm still having problems commenting on all the articles, I have a probem with cookies and not being very good on computer knowledge, I can't comment on the articles. I'm going to get back in the saddle and be on a regular basis once again. I hope this please's my very special friends here on the site that I have grown to love and I am thankful for the very special friendship we have. I'm working on my UCP schedule and if you would like to "interview" anybody please let me know, I would love to have you aboard. That would make the subjects that much more fun. With March Madness upon us I am going to profile some of my favorite Collge Coaches over the next few weeks. John Wooden and Roy Williams have already stopped by we will have some great coaches coming up in the next few weeks.

Thad Matta was born on July 11, 1967 in Hoopeston, Illinois. He became the 13th head coach of the Ohio State Buckeye's on July 7th, 2004. He suceeded former head coach Jim O'Brien who was fired for recruiting violations. He has led the Buckeye's to three Big Ten regular season championships, the 2007 Conference tournament championship, runmner up for the National Championship and he won the NIT Championship in 2008. He is one of only 2 coaches to win 20 or more games in each of his first 10 seasons as a college head coach. He also tied a Ohio State record by winning 20 games in his first year as head coach.

Thad was a high school star for the Hoopeston-East Lynn Cornjerkers and attened Southern Illinois University. He transferred after his sophmore season to Butler where he led the Bulldogs in assists (100) and three-point field goal perecentage (.433) in 1987-88. The following season hed led them in free-throw perecentage (.872). He was a tri-captain and finished his career in 6th place all-time in free thows on the Bulldogs all-time list. He earned his B.S. and graduated in 1990. He scored a career high 21 points against Xavier on March 2, 1989 in the Cincinnati Gardens.

He began his coaching career as assistant for head coach Tates Locke at Indiana St University in 1990-91. He then moved on to Butler in 1991-94, Miami (OH) under Herb Sendek from 1994-95, Western Carolina from 1995-96, back to Miami (OH) from 1996-97, then back to Butler from 1997-2000 where he became head coach taking over for head coach Barry Collier. As a assistant coach his teams compiled a record of 128-58 (.68 and made 6 post-season apprearances. He was on the bench in five consecutive tournament championship games and won four league tournament championship rings. He was in the NCAA torunament 5 times as a assistant under 4 head coaches, and in the NIT once.

His championships include the NIT in 2008 with Ohio State, the Big Ten Tournament in 2007, Big Ten Regular Season in 2006, 07 and 10, A-10 Tournament in 2002, and 04, A-10 Regualr Season in 2002 and 03, Horizion League Tournament in 2001 along with the Regular Season title. His overall career record as of today is 255-84, which includes 153-53 at Ohio State, 24-8 at Butler, 78-23 and 78-23 at Xavier. He was the Horizion League Coach of the year in 2001, the A-10 Coach of the year in 2002, and the Big Ten Coach of the year in 2006 and 10. And now without further adieu I would like to introduce the head coach of the Ohio State Buckeye's the one and only Thad Matta.

SK: Thad it is indeed a honor and a priviledge to have you here on Up Close and Personal. Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to be here especailly considering you are playing for the Big Ten Tournament title tomorrow.

TM: Thank you for having me, it is my pleasure.

Sporting News - Your expert source for MLB Baseball, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and Fantasy Sports scores, blogs, and articles

OSU blog: What was up with Thad Matta on Friday?
Published: Sunday, March 14, 2010
By Mark Podolski
[email protected]

If you saw Evan Turner's epic 37-footer to beat Michigan as it happened on ESPN on Friday, you probably saw a peculiar reaction by Thad Matta.

The Buckeyes coach was not acting like most coaches would in that situation. He looked pretty upset. Replays show Matta turning his attention to either the official's table or at the Michigan bench and shouting.

Matta told reporters he was saying something to officials about Turner's shot occurring before the buzzer. A source close to the OSU program tells a different story.

According to the source, Matta was definitely shouting at the Michigan bench and Coach John Beilein. The source said Matta clearly shouted in the direction of Beilein using a colorful metaphor.

OSU blog: What was up with Thad Matta on Friday? - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

 

[MaxBuck]

Matta has apparently gotten crosswise with several coaching colleagues in the B11. Interesting.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Matta told reporters he was saying something to officials about Turner's shot occurring before the buzzer. A source close to the OSU program tells a different story.

According to the source, Matta was definitely shouting at the Michigan bench and Coach John Beilein. The source said Matta clearly shouted in the direction of Beilein using a colorful metaphor

OSU blog: What was up with Thad Matta on Friday? - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio


i think it's often justified to question (read: doubt) a writer's article when he cites only one source. "a source close to the OSU program" could be just about anybody.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THAD MATTA
Mar 13, 2010

...

SK: Thad it is indeed a honor and a priviledge to have you here on Up Close and Personal. Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to be here especailly considering you are playing for the Big Ten Tournament title tomorrow.

TM: Thank you for having me, it is my pleasure.

Sporting News - Your expert source for MLB Baseball, NFL Football, NBA Basketball, NHL Hockey, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and Fantasy Sports scores, blogs, and articles

important addendum to that "interview:"

The interview was of course fictional. The information for this post was gathered from several sources. Actual quotes for this post were used as indicated. The information for the bio was otained from Wikipedia.

i really don't get the idea behind a fictional interview that isn't fantastical.

 

[Buckskin86]

Matta keeps on making it look easy
By Rusty Miller ? The Associated Press ? March 23, 2010

COLUMBUS - It's 10 p.m. on a Monday in mid-March, the early NIT games are over and even the biggest basketball fans are about to call it a day.

That's when Ohio State coach Thad Matta gets around to answering his stack of phone messages. Some 14 hours into what is a day off for his players, Matta is tired yet exhilarated.

"You've got to enjoy what you're doing," he said. "Coaching is coaching."

Some fans look at the Buckeyes and think their success - a 29-7 record and a date with Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament's round of 16 on Friday - is simply a product of recruiting. After all, Ohio State has perhaps the country's best player in Evan Turner.

Asked if it grates him that people consider him a recruiter first and a coach second, Matta laughed.

"No, it doesn't bother me," he said Tuesday. "I'm one of those guys, I just wake up every day, go to work and do the best that I can."

Ohio State's Matta enjoying busy NCAA tournament run


No. 20 lucky for Matta

 

[bkochmc]

Thanks for another great year of Buckeye basketball, it's been a treat since he's shown up on campus... he's going to spoil us Buckeye basketball fans with all these 20+ win seasons! Here's to another Big Ten championship and NCAA tournament run next year!

 

[Oh8ch]

A few things to consider when measuring Matta's performance:

In the past five years:

1. He has won one NIT championship.
2. He has played in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament four times, winning twice.
3. He has won three regular season Big Ten titles.
4. He has played for the National Title.

In those same five years:

1. He has lost 5 Freshman players to the NBA and 3 more to transfer.
2. In three of those five years he has had to replace four of his starters from the prior season.


That is flat solid.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

That is flat solid.

damn right.

 

[Smooth Olaf]

A few things to consider when measuring Matta's performance:

In the past five years:

1. He has won one NIT championship.
2. He has played in the championship game of the Big Ten tournament four times, winning twice.
3. He has won three regular season Big Ten titles.
4. He has played for the National Title.

In those same five years:

1. He has lost 5 Freshman players to the NBA and 3 more to transfer.
2. In three of those five years he has had to replace four of his starters from the prior season.


That is flat solid.

All reasons why I'm worried to hear about Oregon throwing around large amounts of cash in search for a new coach.