Report: DePaul 'focused' on former Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann for its next head coach

Former Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann could be back on the sidelines soon.

Holtmann is a serious candidate for the DePaul head coaching job, according to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman.

Chris Holtmann was fired as the Ohio State head coach last month.

“DePaul has focused its search on former Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann, source told @TheFieldOf68. Nothing is finalized yet, but signs are that it’s headed that way,” Goodman posted on Twitter.

Holtmann spent nearly seven seasons with the Buckeyes, before being let go. The Buckeyes made the NCAA Tournament four times under Holtmann but didn’t make the Big Dance last season and were on pace to miss out again in 2024 before he was let go.

Ohio State never advanced to the Sweet 16 under Holtmann.

Prior to coaching at Ohio State, Chris Holtmann led the Butler program. He took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in all three of his seasons in charge, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2017, before leaving for the Ohio State job.

As for DePaul, the Blue Demons fired Tony Stubblefield earlier this season. He went 28-54 in two-plus seasons leading the program. Matt Brady was named the interim head coach, replacing Stubblefield. DePaul finished the 2023-24 season with a 3-29 record.

Gene Smith explains firing Chris Holtmann in-season

Ohio State Buckeyes athletic director Gene Smith recently explained the decision to move on from Holtmann as head coach.

Initially, the Ohio State AD stated that he would wait until the end of the season to decide the fate of his men’s basketball head coach. Unfortunately for Holtmann, Smith felt like there was no time like the present to make the decision, firing him on February 14. But what exactly brought about the change of heart? Smith revealed why he decided to make the move to fire Holtmann now instead of evaluating him at the end of the season as originally planned.

“Well, you know, I just felt like looking at the last couple of games, a few games actually, that this team needed different leadership. So I made the change,” said Smith.

Now Ohio State is looking for their next men’s basketball head coach. Given the prestige of the university, the Buckeyes will have their fair share of candidates for the job. So, expect Smith to use this additional time allotted from firing Holtmann in-season to ensure that he makes the best possible hire for the position.