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

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The radio talk shows here in Indianapolis are all over the Matta story. One station even talked with one of the on air hosts from 1460 in Columbus, who did little to refute the possibility of Matta leaving OSU.

As for Davis, it is hard to follow a legend especially when your not a program insider. Look how difficult it was for Earle after Woody and he was a born and bread OSU guy. Solich never had it easy after replacing Osborne at Nebrasksa either.

Since I have lived in Indiana I have heard nothing positive said about Davis and have seen loads of Texas Tech shirts and flags. This was inevitable from the beginning.

As for Alford, most Iowa folks would like him gone as much as Indiana folks want him at IU.
 
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buckeyebri said:
The radio talk shows here in Indianapolis are all over the Matta story. One station even talked with one of the on air hosts from 1460 in Columbus, who did little to refute the possibility of Matta leaving OSU.
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Does anyone know if Matta has a "buyout" in his contract. If not I can't see Ohio State letting him out of it and/or giving IU permission to talk to him; and he is signed through the 2011-2012 season. In addition, in the original contract he had a $2 million dollar bonus if he stayed for all 7 seasons.


Ohio State's Matta signs eight-year contract (one year extension)

Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Ohio State has reportedly signed men's basketball coach Thad Matta to an eight-year contract.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Matta will be paid $1.1 million in total salary this season, which includes a $350,000 bonus he received to satisfy his Xavier buyout. He could also increase his pay next year by reaching any or all of 10 incentive clauses that total $290,000.

The 37-year-old Matta was initially given a seven-year contract upon his hiring on July 7 last year and then had a one-year extension added on. However, the agreement between Matta and the university was preliminary after the school imposed a one-year ban on postseason play.

The formal signing, though, eliminates any speculation that Matta will not stay in Columbus should Ohio State be given harsher penalties by the NCAA. He will now be with the Buckeyes through the 2011-12 campaign after originally replacing Jim O'Brien, who was fired in June for a violation of NCAA bylaws.

The violations stemmed from an ongoing investigation of the basketball program in response to violations of NCAA rules. The infraction the school is dealing with involves improper cash benefits given by O'Brien to a recruit who ultimately did not come to Ohio State.

O'Brien has since sued the university, claiming the firing violated the terms of his contract.

Matta's signing comes just days after Gene Smith was named Ohio State's new athletic director. Smith took over following the January resignation of Andy Geiger, who stepped down following the many scandals at the school.

Although Ohio State cannot participate in this year's NCAA Tournament because of the school sanctions, the team will compete in this week's Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.

Matta has led the Buckeyes to a 19-11 record this season, which includes an 8-8 mark in Big Ten play. The team is also fresh off a stunning 65-64 upset of No. 1 and previously unbeaten Illinois. "
http://www.kfty.com/sports/ncaa/story.aspx?content_id=D9CC4AB5-C493-4FDB-B1EA-B937B4A0D921

Matta: No regrets on how he left Xavier


He said everyone he talked to at XU wished him well. He spoke to his team Wednesday night after Xavier announced he had accepted the OSU job.
"It's hard to say goodbye to a team, because they're the one who get you the next job or get you fired," Matta said. "In my case, I was fortunate that those guys got me my next job. One player stepped up and said, 'Coach did a great job, but it's the second time this has happened to us and we'll survive.' "
Matta will be sending Xavier a $225,000 check for the buyout of his contract, which ran through 2013.
"He has to pay (the buyout)," Geiger said. "That's why there's a ($300,000) signing bonus." Matta's contract at Ohio State is for a total compensation package of $760,000 per year, Geiger said. Matta will receive a $2 million bonus from Ohio State if he stays for the entire seven years of his contract.

http://www.cincypost.com/2004/07/10/osuhoop07-10-2004.html
 
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The radio talk shows here in Indianapolis are all over the Matta story. One station even talked with one of the on air hosts from 1460 in Columbus, who did little to refute the possibility of Matta leaving OSU.
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I don't believe Matta will even be considered. Alford will take the job if offered and signs point to that happening after the season, so until then we will have to listen to the media name every high profile coach who is either has a job or doesn't have a job.

It was the same way when tOSU fired Coop. Some of the names were crazy, remember Gruden? Stoops?
 
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Lets put a quell to all these worries of Coach Matta going to IU with a little help from the old Gonzo Weatherman's perspective...
Thad Matta took over a program that was just begging for a coach to make it into a major player. With his first recruiting class at the university, he has managed to bring in one of the best recruiting classes EVER...in all of division 1. He has alumni and a rabid fanbase that is starving for a winner. He's at a school that is known as a football school...think he might want to change that? He has a lucrative contract by just about any coaches standards. He has some of the best facilities in the country and a rich tradition to build off of. Folks, I would be willing to stake a fairly large chunk of change that Thad Matta will not only return us to prominence (well he kinda already has), but win us atleast one national title in the next five years. Coach Matta isn't going anywhere. A sleeping giant has been awaken.
:osu:
 
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Anybody who is confident Matta will not leave for IU did not see the interview where he was asked about his level of interest in the job. I haven't seen that much stuttering since the head cheerleader at my HS asked me to the prom (turns out it was a dare).

The argument folks are making that he would be crazy to leave is centered around the great recruiting class coming in and the foundation he has laid for the future. Well, look again.

Certainly we do have a great class. But they will join Butler and a bunch of question marks. 2006-07 will be a great season, but it is tough to argue that all of the pieces will be in place for a title run.

In one or two years both Oden and Cook will, in all probability, be heading to the NBA. Hunter will be gone as well. That leaves Lighty, Conley and all those 5 star players who have verbally committed or are considering doing so. You know, Koufas, Lauderdale, Diebler, Offutt, Mullens, etc.

Well guess what. Ain't no ink drying on any of those kids. And let's quit fooling ourselves. Most of the players looking this way are hooked on Matta, not playing in front of the seat license holders at the Schott. A move by Matta now sets him back two years at the most. Landing Oden is not that significant in the long term for a 38 year old coach. And that is really what most of the hoopla is about - one player.

The only thing that will hurt Matta is the stigma of jumping around. But getting to your one time 'dream job' gives you a solid argument that you are where you want to be for the long haul. If Matta has any thoughts of ever going to IU he would be smart to do it sooner than later.

But ultimately it is about the money. Maybe the stuttering was because the potential sanctions are still in the back of his mind (if we are hit this is a no brainer - he and his class are gone). Or maybe the head cheerleader just asked him out. But more likely it was because he was doing the mental math and calculating how much more OSU would have to pay him to stay. You know, the same OSU that will be depleting their budget to pay Jim O'Brien 9 mil for not coaching at OSU.

I will be holding my breath until IU announces Allford, Crean, or some other name.
 
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What do you think Oden and Conley would do if the unthinkable happened....Matta takes IU head coaching job?

It sounds crazy that Matta would consider this but the Cleveland Plain Dealer had an article about Matta, and he was asked about the soon to be vacant IU post....he simply said he wouldn't comment on it.

IU really wants him, buyout of his contract is only $500k, he has strong Inidana roots, and basketball is king at IU.

I hope this scenario is ridiculous, but I would have felt a lot more comfortable if Matta said he wasn't interested.
 
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If it comes down to the money...that should be no problem. The sales of Ohio State #50 basketball jerseys might very well eclipse the sale of Ohio State #47 football jerseys come next year! OK, maybe not....but it won't hurt the revenue department, that's fo sho.
 
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Split from Davis discussion. This certainly deserves its own thread.
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Beat me to it........

Anybody who is confident Matta will not leave for IU did not see the interview where he was asked about his level of interest in the job.
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You are right to a certain extent. Its the old tip toe around the question type of answer from Matta. Alford did the same.

I will be holding my breath until IU announces Allford, Crean, or some other name.
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I agree, the thought of Matta leaving is in the back of my mind, but realistically, the Indiana program is behind tOSU's at this point and with the current recruiting class coming in and the amount of money that Matta will receive, I find it hard to believe he would jump ship at this point.

Another factor to think about here is the upcoming NCAA ruling. Matta is leaving the door open just in case the NCAA comes down with something unexpected, my opinion he is only being smart or using the Indiana job as leverage for a better deal at tOSU. Makes sense.

The key factor will be how much does Indiana want Steve Alford.....sources close to the situation say Alford is the #1 choice and then everyone else. Its apparently been made known that Alford would take the job if offered. I believe they will hire Alford after the tournament and go from there. Until then OSU fans will have to sit and worry about Matta's name being thrown in the hat for the Indiana job.

I will feel better in a couple of weeks after the NCAA comes down with their ruling. I think after that happens, we could see a different answer when Matta is asked about the Indiana job.
 
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CPD

2/18/06

OSU MEN'S BASKETBALL
Matta complimented, not commenting


Saturday, February 18, 2006 Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus
-- Ohio State men's basketball coach Thad Matta said he's most concerned with his team playing better defense today against Northwestern.

While brushing aside speculation Friday about the new job opening at Indiana, he also fell short of an "I'm staying" declaration.

Indiana's Mike Davis officially announced his resignation Thursday, effective at the end of the year. Matta, who played and coached in the Hoosier State, already has become a favorite candidate of IU fan message boards.

"I think it's a tremendous compliment to our players and our staff that that would happen," Matta said Friday morning. "It acknowledges what these kids have done here. I'll never comment on another job or rumors or speculation or anything like that."

According to his contract, Matta can't say anything to the Hoosiers at this time. He can negotiate with other schools only in the window between the end of the regular season and April 15, and only after giving written notice to Athletic Director Gene Smith. Matta, or Indiana, would have to pay OSU a $500,000 buyout if he left. Indiana does not plan to name a coach until after the NCAA title game on April 3.

The first name in the Hoosiers rumor mill is former IU star Steve Alford. In Matta, fans find a candidate with state connections who is not part of the Bob Knight coaching tree.

Matta, 38, grew up in Hoopeston, Ill., 6 miles from the Indiana border, and his father was a fan of Knight. Matta finished his college playing career at Butler University in Indianapolis, then started his coaching career as an assistant at Indiana State and later at Butler.

The second-year Buckeyes coach is in the midst of an eight-year contract worth $11 million.

He is earning $820,000 this season in guaranteed salary and will earn an extra $40,000 if the Buckeyes make the NCAA Tournament. Among other incentives, he also will earn an extra $20,000 if the Buckeyes win the Big Ten title, $40,000 if they win the Big Ten Tournament and he will have an extra year added to his contract with either title.

Davis was making $800,000 plus incentives this season.

With one of the top two recruiting classes in the country coming in, centerpieced by Indianapolis stars Greg Oden and Mike Conley, it would seem an unlikely time for Matta to bolt. The Buckeyes enter today's game at 18-4 and 7-4 in the Big Ten, tied for third in the conference and ranked No. 12 in the country. The collapsing Hoosiers are 13-9, 5-6, and several of their best players have indicated they will transfer.

One factor, the final NCAA decision on future sanctions for the OSU program over violations committed under previous coach Jim O'Brien, still is weeks away.

The Buckeyes are not anticipating a postseason ban, but if one comes down and the Buckeyes can't go to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the recruits could exercise an out that Matta put in their letters of intent. That ban could make leaving a more viable option for him.

Though Ohio State has the bigger budget and better facilities, Indiana offers what Columbus never can: a place where basketball is king.

If the IU administration likes Matta as much as some of the fans do, he may have a choice ahead of him.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

[email protected], 216-999-4479
Click to expand...
 
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Pardon the interruption, but....

Thad isn't heading to Bloomingville or anywhere else to coach. I know firsthand that he feels "blessed" to be the BB coach for the Buckeyes and, to anyone who follows college bb, his TOTAL dedication to building the Buckeye program is a clear sign of his personal commitment. If you listened to thefan yesterday, you'd know why Thad responded in the interview as he did. He learned an important lesson about speculative questions and responses a couple of years ago down in Cincinnati. Go Bucks! Dunk Northwestern! :oh: :io:
 
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