COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--Ohio State has confirmed the hire of Chris Holtmann as the new Head Men's Basketball Coach.
Holtmann spent the last three seasons at Butler, where he led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament every year, and to the Sweet-16 in 2017.
He spent one year at Butler as an Assistant Coach before being named Head Coach. Prior to Butler, Holtmann was the head coach at Gardner-Webb for three seasons, where he turned an 8-win team into a 21-win team.
Holtmann has been named a conference Coach of the Year twice, and was a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year in 2014-15.
Holtman also has an Ohio connection, serving as an assistant under John Groce at Ohio University for two seasons.
The deal with Ohio State is for eight years, worth about $3-million a year, according to Athletics Director Gene Smith.
Holtmann replaces Thad Matta, who was let go after 13 seasons with the Buckeyes, and was the winningest coach in program history. Ohio State has not made the NCAA Tournament each of the past two seasons.
(photo via Getty Images)