Ohio State Head Coach Jake Diebler Reacts to Thad Matta's Retirement

Matta's illustrious 21-year coaching career included 9 NCAA Tournament appearances and 5 Big Ten titles with the Buckeyes.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:33pm

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Thad Matta, the former head coach of the Ohio State men's basketball team, has officially decided to retire after an impressive 21-year coaching career. Matta spent 13 seasons leading the Buckeyes, during which he guided the program to 9 NCAA Tournament appearances, 5 Big Ten regular season titles, and 4 Big Ten Tournament championships. Current Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler praised Matta's legacy, calling him "one of the good guys" who "always did it the right way."

Why it matters

Matta's retirement marks the end of an era for Ohio State basketball. He was instrumental in reviving the program in the mid-2000s and establishing the Buckeyes as a consistent national power. His departure leaves a significant void that the current coaching staff, led by Jake Diebler, will need to fill as they look to continue the program's success.

The details

Matta's coaching career spanned 21 seasons and 725 games across three different schools. He first made a name for himself at Xavier, where he compiled a 78-23 record and was named the 2003 Naismith Coach of the Year. Matta then took over the Ohio State program in 2004 and immediately turned the Buckeyes into a contender, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in his second season despite a postseason ban the year prior. Over the next decade, Matta guided Ohio State to 9 NCAA Tournament appearances, 5 Big Ten regular season titles, and 4 Big Ten Tournament championships.

  • Matta was named the 13th head coach of the Ohio State men's basketball program in July 2004.
  • In his first season with the Buckeyes in 2004-05, Matta led the team to a 20-12 record that included a marquee win over top-ranked Illinois.
  • From 2005-2015, Matta's Ohio State teams compiled 279 wins and never won fewer than 22 games in a single season.
  • Matta led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament 9 times, including 5 Big Ten regular season titles and 4 Big Ten Tournament championships.

The players

Thad Matta

The former head coach of the Ohio State men's basketball team, who retired in 2026 after an illustrious 21-year coaching career that included 9 NCAA Tournament appearances and 5 Big Ten regular season titles with the Buckeyes.

Jake Diebler

The current head coach of the Ohio State men's basketball team, who praised Matta's legacy and called him "one of the good guys" who "always did it the right way."

Jared Sullinger

A former star player for the Ohio State Buckeyes and NBA power forward, who was among those who paid tribute to Matta's coaching career.

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What they’re saying

“He's one of the good guys. He's one of the guys who always did it the right way, Hall of Famer, won a ton and we need to celebrate him in this program.”

— Jake Diebler, Ohio State Head Coach (Twitter)

The takeaway

Thad Matta's retirement marks the end of an era for Ohio State basketball, as he was instrumental in reviving the program and establishing the Buckeyes as a consistent national power. His successor, Jake Diebler, will have big shoes to fill as he looks to continue the program's success and build upon Matta's impressive legacy.