Thad Matta Returns to Coach Butler Basketball

Veteran coach aims to turn around struggling program after four seasons away.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:35pm

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Thad Matta will return to coach the Butler Bulldogs basketball team for the 2026-27 season, a source close to the program has confirmed. Matta previously coached the Bulldogs from 2022 to 2026, during which time the team struggled with a 63-69 overall record and 39-55 conference record. Butler finished the 2025-26 season with a 16-16 record and 7-13 in the Big East.

Why it matters

Matta's return is seen as a crucial move to revive the Butler basketball program, which has fallen on hard times in recent years. As an experienced and respected coach, Matta's leadership is expected to help stabilize the team and put them back on a path to success in the highly competitive Big East conference.

The details

In four seasons under Matta's previous tenure, the Bulldogs failed to make the NCAA Tournament, a far cry from the program's success in the early 2010s when they reached the national championship game twice. Matta will now be tasked with rebuilding the team and restoring Butler's reputation as a basketball powerhouse.

  • Thad Matta will return to coach Butler for the 2026-27 season.
  • Butler finished the 2025-26 season with a 16-16 record and 7-13 in the Big East.

The players

Thad Matta

An experienced college basketball coach who previously led the Butler Bulldogs from 2022 to 2026.

Butler Bulldogs

The men's basketball team of Butler University, a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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What they’re saying

“Certain things have got to change, but we're heading on the right trajectory of where we need to be.”

— Jeff Goodman, Analyst, Field of 68

What’s next

Matta will need to quickly assemble a coaching staff and recruit new talent to the Butler program in order to turn things around for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Matta's return to Butler represents a critical juncture for the program, as the veteran coach looks to leverage his experience and reputation to revive the Bulldogs and restore their status as a competitive force in the Big East conference.