Ohio State Begins Search for New Basketball Coach After Firing Chris Holtmann
In a surprising move, Ohio State has decided to part ways with head coach Chris Holtmann after seven years with the team. The Buckeyes are now on the hunt for a new coach for the 2024 season, making them the first major school to begin their search. According to a statement from the school, the search will officially start once OSU’s 2023-24 campaign comes to an end.
One of the biggest unknowns in this process is what incoming athletic director Ross Bjork will be looking for in a candidate. This will be Bjork’s first major move at Ohio State, and he will be starting in a senior advisor role on March 1 before taking over as athletic director this summer. It remains to be seen what qualities and qualifications he will prioritize in the search for a new coach.
With the news of Holtmann’s departure, several potential candidates have emerged as possible replacements. Here is a list of potential candidates in alphabetical order:
1. Jeff Boals, Ohio: Boals is a former associate head coach at Ohio State during the Thad Matta era. He then took on the head coaching job at Stony Brook before returning to his alma mater in 2019. Boals led the Bobcats to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, where they defeated reigning national champion Virginia in the first round.
2. Dennis Gates, Missouri: Gates spent eight years as an assistant coach at Florida State before becoming the head coach at Cleveland State. In his three years at Cleveland State, Gates won 50 games and was named conference coach of the year twice. He then took over a struggling Missouri team and quickly turned them around, winning SEC coach of the year in his first season.
3. Pat Kelsey, College of Charleston: Kelsey has an impressive coaching resume, with experience as an assistant at Wake Forest and Xavier, as well as head coaching stints at Winthrop and Charleston. He has won multiple conference championships and was named Big South coach of the year in 2021. Kelsey is known for his success in building winning programs.
4. Dusty May, Florida Atlantic: May led Florida Atlantic to a historic Final Four run last season and has continued their success this year. With a 35-4 record last season and a 19-5 record this year, May has proven himself as a talented coach. He signed a 10-year extension with FAU last April, indicating his commitment to the program.
5. Greg McDermott, Creighton: McDermott was a candidate for the Ohio State job before Holtmann was hired. He has been with Creighton for 14 seasons and has an impressive record of 300-150. McDermott also had a successful four-year stint as the head coach of Iowa State, where he won 59 games.
6. Sean Miller, Xavier: Miller has had a successful coaching career, with eight trips to the Sweet 16 and four trips to the Elite Eight. He spent 12 years at Arizona before returning to Xavier, where he helped the Musketeers achieve a 27-10 record in his first season back.
7. Wes Miller, Cincinnati: Miller has quickly made a name for himself as a successful coach. Before joining Cincinnati, he spent 10 years as the head coach of UNC Greensboro, where he won 217 games before turning 40. Miller was named the No. 1 coach under the age of 40 by ESPN in May 2020.
8. Nate Oats, Alabama: Oats has turned Alabama into one of the SEC’s top teams in just five years as head coach. He previously had success at Buffalo, leading them to two NCAA Tournament appearances. Oats is known for his high-tempo, fast-paced style of play.
9. Lamont Paris, South Carolina: Paris has worked his way up the coaching ladder, starting as an assistant at Akron before moving to Wisconsin. He then took over as head coach at Chattanooga, leading them to the NCAA Tournament before being hired at South Carolina. The Gamecocks have had a strong season under Paris, with a 21-3 record.
10. Buzz Williams, Texas A&M: Williams was a candidate for the Ohio State job before Holtmann was hired. He has had success at multiple programs, including Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. With the Aggies, Williams has posted a winning record in three of his first four seasons and made the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
As Ohio State begins their search for a new basketball coach, these potential candidates will be closely evaluated. It remains to be seen who will ultimately take on the role, but one thing is for certain – the Buckeyes are looking for a coach who can lead them to success in the upcoming seasons.
