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Butler hires Thad Matta as next head coach

Former Ohio State head coach will lead the Bulldogs heading into next season.

By Erik Buchinger Updated
Head coach Thad Matta of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on during the game against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half at the Breslin Center on February 14, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images

The Butler Bulldogs have hired Thad Matta as the next head coach of their men’s basketball team.

Matta is mostly known for his years of being in charge of the Ohio State Buckeyes, but he has had a few stints with Butler previously in his coaching career. He was an assistant for the Bulldogs from 1991-94, returned to the role from 1997-2000 and became the head coach for one season for the 2000-01 campaign.

In Matta’s lone season as the head man at Butler, the Bulldogs finished 24-8 overall and won the Midwestern Collegiate Conference regular season and tournament championship as they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Matta left to coach the Xavier Musketeers for three seasons and took over Ohio State from 2004-2017. He has a career head coaching record of 439-154.

Matta had most recently been the associate athletic director with the Indiana Hoosiers.

Matta will replace LaVall Jordan, who was fired after the season. Butler is coming off a season in which they finished with a 14-19 overall record including 6-14 in Big East play.

The Bulldogs haven’t been in the NCAA Tournament since the 2017-18 season.

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