Thad Matta is concluding his coaching career.
The former Ohio State basketball coach announced his retirement from coaching on Monday following a four-year return to coaching at Butler. Matta will remain with Butler, his alma mater, as a special assistant to the university president and athletic director.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a news release by Butler. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can. My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the Big East and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.”
Congratulations on your retirement, Thad! Thank you for all you did for Bulldog Nation.
— Butler Basketball (@ButlerMBB) March 16, 2026
: https://t.co/YcWV2xRh8X#ButlerWay pic.twitter.com/17ExcqqjMU
Matta ends his coaching career with a 502-223 record over 21 seasons as a head coach, earning his 500th win in February. Thirteen of those seasons were at Ohio State. The winningest coach in Ohio State basketball history, Matta went 337-123 with the Buckeyes, leading Ohio State to a national championship game appearance, two Final Fours, three Elite Eights, five Sweet 16s and nine total NCAA Tournament appearances.
Let go by Ohio State after the 2016-17 season, Matta took five years off from coaching before returning to the sideline in 2022 at Butler, where he started his head coaching career in 2000 after multiple stints as an assistant. Matta was unable to recapture his previous success in his second stint at Butler, however, going just 63-69 across four seasons.
Although Butler went just 16-16 this season, Butler athletic director Grant Leindecker told The Field of 68’s Grant Leindecker last week that Matta would return for another season. Now, however, Butler has commenced a search for a new coach to replace Matta.
"It is hard to fully capture in words what the Matta family has meant to Butler University and to our men's basketball program," Leindecker said in a statement. "As a student-athlete, two assistant coaching tenures and then twice as head coach at Butler, Thad has given so much to our university and his impact on our student-athletes has been life-changing. Today is bittersweet in that Thad will no longer be leading our program on the sidelines, but we are grateful that he has accepted President Danko and my offer to remain at Butler University to continue to elevate the institution, as his wisdom and experience are invaluable and will help maintain stability in our program."
