Chris Holtmann, Thad Matta Come From Similar Places

By Tim Shoemaker on June 10, 2017 at 7:15 am
Thad Matta and Chris Holtmann are similar.
22 Comments

There is a lot of Thad Matta in Chris Holtmann.

That's what it feels like, anyway. I can't prove that, of course, but based on everything I've read about Holtmann over the last 48 hours and everything I've learned about Matta the last four years covering him, that's the vibe I get.

Obviously, this is a good thing.

Let's be clear: The Thad Matta I'm comparing Chris Holtmann to is the younger version of Matta, the one who was once a hotshot up-and-coming coach who accomplished big things at Butler and Xavier. That success obviously carried over when Matta got a big-time job at Ohio State in 2004. 

Under Holtmann, Butler won 70 games in three seasons and made the NCAA tournament three teams. The Bulldogs won at least one game in the Big Dance every year and were in the Sweet 16 this past season. Additionally, Butler signed its highest-rated recruiting class ever in 2017 under Holtmann.

A young coach who recruits — and wins games — at a high level. Sound familiar? If Holtmann's first recruiting class at Ohio State is anything like Matta's, well, you don't need me to tell you how impressive that would be. 

But this is about more than just on-court success and solid recruiting. Everything I've read about Holtmann outside of basketball is similar, in a way, to Matta, as well.

When Ohio State parted ways with Matta on Monday, the outpour from former players and colleagues was somewhat overwhelming. Nobody had a bad word to say about Matta. By all accounts, he was beloved in the college basketball world and Matta said at his final press conference he took pride in that.

"I hope, No. 1, I'm remembered as a really good person, a guy that cared about the university, a guy that cared about his players," Matta said. "I think from that perspective, that is what is most important to me."

"I think the last thing I'm always remembered for is that we always did it the right way. To me, that is something I'm going to hang my hat on — that this program was run the right way."

He's just six years into his head coaching career, but similar things have already been said about Holtmann. 

Gary Parrish, a columnist for CBS Sports, published a story Friday afternoon where he told a personal tale. Parrish knew a couple of Butler fans who were headed to a game so he asked Holtmann if he'd be willing to meet them beforehand.

You can read the whole story here — and it's certainly worth it — but below is an excerpt: 

Holtmann's response: "Have the dad text me."

Next thing I knew, Holtmann had personally invited them to, and hosted them at, Butler's shootaround -- and given them a private tour of Hinkle Fieldhouse before what turned out to be an 87-76 win over Georgetown. Blew them away. And what I later found out, sadly, is that this all happened one day after Butler assistant Emerson Kampen's 6-month-old son died from a terminal genetic disease -- meaning Holtmann had every reason in the world to cancel. He was dealing with a tragedy. Something truly awful. But he so badly wanted to not cancel that he just put on a happy face and gave them a memory nobody else could've given them.

That's Ohio State's new basketball coach.

So yeah, the two seem pretty similar. From on-court playing style — tough, hard-nosed defensive-minded teams — to a strong recruiting background to doing things the right way off the floor, Holtmann and Matta appear to be cut from a similar cloth.

When the hiring of Holtmann was made official, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said the following in a press release:

"Chris is focused on academics, is a high-integrity person, a relentless recruiter with Midwestern ties and a proven winner."

That's Matta-like.

And if Ohio State gets another Matta-like run under Holtmann, that's all you can ask for.

22 Comments
View 22 Comments