Ohio State University Fires Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Holtmann

Ohio State University has made the decision to relieve Chris Holtmann of his duties as the head coach of the men’s basketball team, marking the end of his nearly seven-year tenure in Columbus. The university announced the firing on Wednesday, with associate head coach Jake Diebler stepping in as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

The move comes after a string of disappointing results for the Buckeyes, who have lost nine of their last 11 games, including a recent defeat to. Outgoing athletics director Gene Smith, in a press conference, highlighted the need for a ‘spark’ within the program, leading to the decision to part ways with Holtmann.

With four years remaining on his contract, Holtmann will receive a buyout worth $12.8 million as the Buckeyes begin their search for a new head coach. The task of finding Holtmann’s successor falls to new athletic director Ross Bjork, who officially assumes his role in July but will begin an interim position on March 1.

Holtmann, who previously had successful stints at, took over the Ohio State program in 2017, following the departure of Thad Matta. He guided the team to three consecutive NCAA tournaments, achieving varying levels of success in each postseason appearance.

After a promising start to the current season with a 12-2 record, the Buckeyes have stumbled, currently sitting near the bottom of the Big Ten standings with a 4-10 conference record and a 14-11 overall record. Ohio State’s struggles on the road and in the month of January have been particularly glaring, with the team failing to secure a road victory since the beginning of 2023.

Holtmann’s coaching journey began at Division III Geneva College and included stops at Gardner-Webb and Butler before landing the head coaching position at Ohio State. Despite some highs during his time with the Buckeyes, including an NCAA tournament No. 2 seed in 2021, the recent downturn in performance ultimately led to his dismissal.