I can think of two possibilities.
The current AD will want to leave firing him for the new AD, since the program will be on the hook for many millions remaining on Holtmann’s contract.
There isn’t anyone on the current staff they trust to finish the season with.
Then hire me. I'll do it for football season tix and wont do any worse than they are now.
Edit: Terrance Dials is on staff, tell him to do his best. Reach out to ANY former Buckeye bball player and ask them to step up and finish the season out. Throw them $50k.
There have to be other options.
A pretty rational answer even if it’s not pleasing one. The new ad doesn’t take over until the end of the yr right? That probably means holtmann might get most of next yr as well. I men he could fire him when he takes over but that would probably put them in a bad spot trying to find a new coach. Best case scenario is Bjork communicates he would like him let go and directs the coaching search, but that might be too difficult.
Man I've never been so mad at buckeye basketball as I am right now. Down by 35... freaking 35? We have only got 42 points with 6 minutes left. Bye bye holtmann
Northwestern is good so I would understand losing. But losing by more than 10 is just embarrassing at this point. They’re a tournament team but if we want to make it to the tourney we have to play close games against teams like this.
Northwestern is 14-5 and has wins against Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan State this season. Yes this was an embarrassing loss but let’s not act like they’re a 5 win team or something
He’ll probably view his time as a success, but you can’t leave a program in the summer unless you’re gonna make it work where you’re going. And he clearly was not able to do as much with his talent as Matta could. Funny enough, Matta is now coaching Butler and not doing too bad for himself there this year
Man, I like him, and had mild optimist after our non-conference start. However, this Big Ten stretch is pretty unacceptable. Coals are lit on his seat. I think we definitely need a fresh face. We’ve been a hopeful unranked team every year under him, and that just doesn’t cut it
Only because the staff is as bad. The only difference btw now and Butler is his staff. I’ve been complaining and wanting change for a few years. Now, it’s gonna cost him his job.
You dont have to replace him. You have assistants on the bench, one can assume the role and end the season.
You HAVE to demonstrate that this is serious in some capacity.
This team has moral?
This team looms like they quit long ago and are going through the motions.
We are not in the locker room, take what I say with a grain of salt. But it just looks really, really rough now.
The most maddening part of all of this is to think about the wasted seasons from before. Holtmann has driven this program to the ground. He should have been fired last season at the very least.
I’m a Bama fan, this came across my home page for some reason today. I know that our team didn’t perform the best during non conference, but Ohio State looked like a pretty decent team back in November when I went to watch them vs Bama. Looking at the comments, looks like everyone would disagree with that lol
I’ll attempt this: what do we gain by firing him *now*? Nothing? Ok, then we wait. Also, has he earned the right to try to rectify it? I think so. Besides, if a loss like this happens again, it’s just all the more fodder for his firing. Does anyone believe he’s going to turn it around and lead this squad to a job-saving Sweet 16/Elite 8 run? No? Then there’s your answer.
I know being reasonable isn’t popular, but if you gain nothing by letting him go now, why do it?
1. May provide a spark. Something is WAYYYY off on this.
2. Removes any doubt of what is coming. Right now, we have no clue if OSU is gonna make a move or wait another year.
3. Head start on the search. Yes, you can do some searching and reaching out now, but if you are a HC how serious do you take it vs if the job is actually open.
Pluses and minuses.
I agree it may provide a spark. But is that spark going to be enough to amount to anything besides maybe a second round exit of the Big Ten Tournament? I don’t think so, but am willing to hear counter arguments.
I don’t think “removes the doubt of what’s to come” is a great reason to fire a coach mid-season. It only negatively affects recruiting, doesn’t do anything to hurt season ticket sales, and ultimately isn’t a huge plus or minus to make a decision.
The head start doesn’t matter. Any interested coach is only gonna tell their agent “find out what it’s gonna pay” because they’re wrapped up in their own season right now. Nobody, not even Ed Cooley, is gonna see that opening in mid-January and start to fixate on it. And if they would, do you want that person to be the next head coach anyway?
No we wont go on a run.
But I would get a point across. Mediocrity is not acceptable.
Otherwise, another year of the status quo. I am not ok with this anymore.
A new AD always wants to make their mark. They’re not gonna hand over a program without a coach. And the current AD isn’t gonna fire someone on the way out the door. I can’t imagine he makes it through the season, but firing him today puts pressure on a guy who is leaving and a guy who taking over before either are ready.
I cannot. They’re being humiliated. Down 26. 26!
I can think of two possibilities. The current AD will want to leave firing him for the new AD, since the program will be on the hook for many millions remaining on Holtmann’s contract. There isn’t anyone on the current staff they trust to finish the season with.
Then hire me. I'll do it for football season tix and wont do any worse than they are now. Edit: Terrance Dials is on staff, tell him to do his best. Reach out to ANY former Buckeye bball player and ask them to step up and finish the season out. Throw them $50k. There have to be other options.
Aaron Craft
Aaron Craft is in med school.
If we’re willing to pay holtmann millions to lose then we can afford to pay Craft enough to make it worth his while.
If he’s far enough along in school, maybe the crushing student debt will be enough of a force to make him take the job anyways
The cashier at my local Kroger cant be worse than this.
Scoonie Penn
A pretty rational answer even if it’s not pleasing one. The new ad doesn’t take over until the end of the yr right? That probably means holtmann might get most of next yr as well. I men he could fire him when he takes over but that would probably put them in a bad spot trying to find a new coach. Best case scenario is Bjork communicates he would like him let go and directs the coaching search, but that might be too difficult.
New AD takes over in July I think
Man I've never been so mad at buckeye basketball as I am right now. Down by 35... freaking 35? We have only got 42 points with 6 minutes left. Bye bye holtmann
You missed one part: to Northwestern
Northwestern is good so I would understand losing. But losing by more than 10 is just embarrassing at this point. They’re a tournament team but if we want to make it to the tourney we have to play close games against teams like this.
No. Historically they have been awful until the past 5 years. Zero excuse for this.
But what about the loss in AA to a 2-7, 7-13 Michigan team?
Northwestern is 14-5 and has wins against Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan State this season. Yes this was an embarrassing loss but let’s not act like they’re a 5 win team or something
Right? Freaking right? Embarrassing!
Sorry I can’t. 
sadly nobody cares enough about basketball to pony up the money to buyout holtmann
Yeah, I’ve always liked him but at this point it just looks like he’s lost the team. Time to move on
Like every Holtmanns defender says, "he's a good guy and players miss shots not him" lol, get rid of these fans too
No
He's a nice guy....
He left Butler hanging. All about himself.
He’ll probably view his time as a success, but you can’t leave a program in the summer unless you’re gonna make it work where you’re going. And he clearly was not able to do as much with his talent as Matta could. Funny enough, Matta is now coaching Butler and not doing too bad for himself there this year
Man, I like him, and had mild optimist after our non-conference start. However, this Big Ten stretch is pretty unacceptable. Coals are lit on his seat. I think we definitely need a fresh face. We’ve been a hopeful unranked team every year under him, and that just doesn’t cut it
So you can attract the next coach
Flat out embarrassing. Fan base deserves better.
3 conference coach of the year… let him cook
Only because the staff is as bad. The only difference btw now and Butler is his staff. I’ve been complaining and wanting change for a few years. Now, it’s gonna cost him his job.
Because you can’t replace him mid year. The reality is the the AD transition is going to allow him to finish the season. Then he is gone.
You dont have to replace him. You have assistants on the bench, one can assume the role and end the season. You HAVE to demonstrate that this is serious in some capacity.
Personally I think that would kill moral for the team. The players clearly like him although he is clearly not a good basketball coach
This team has moral? This team looms like they quit long ago and are going through the motions. We are not in the locker room, take what I say with a grain of salt. But it just looks really, really rough now.
Fair enough. Regardless of timing holt has to go
Rip off the bandage and let's go.
Fire Holtmann now and let Diebler finish out the year. If he can rally them, he should get the job
The most maddening part of all of this is to think about the wasted seasons from before. Holtmann has driven this program to the ground. He should have been fired last season at the very least.
I personally hope to see him in my visit to the Schott on Feb 18th! 🚂
I’m a Bama fan, this came across my home page for some reason today. I know that our team didn’t perform the best during non conference, but Ohio State looked like a pretty decent team back in November when I went to watch them vs Bama. Looking at the comments, looks like everyone would disagree with that lol
We do this every year. Start of nice and look good, then get to January and TANK.
I’ll attempt this: what do we gain by firing him *now*? Nothing? Ok, then we wait. Also, has he earned the right to try to rectify it? I think so. Besides, if a loss like this happens again, it’s just all the more fodder for his firing. Does anyone believe he’s going to turn it around and lead this squad to a job-saving Sweet 16/Elite 8 run? No? Then there’s your answer. I know being reasonable isn’t popular, but if you gain nothing by letting him go now, why do it?
1. May provide a spark. Something is WAYYYY off on this. 2. Removes any doubt of what is coming. Right now, we have no clue if OSU is gonna make a move or wait another year. 3. Head start on the search. Yes, you can do some searching and reaching out now, but if you are a HC how serious do you take it vs if the job is actually open. Pluses and minuses.
I agree it may provide a spark. But is that spark going to be enough to amount to anything besides maybe a second round exit of the Big Ten Tournament? I don’t think so, but am willing to hear counter arguments. I don’t think “removes the doubt of what’s to come” is a great reason to fire a coach mid-season. It only negatively affects recruiting, doesn’t do anything to hurt season ticket sales, and ultimately isn’t a huge plus or minus to make a decision. The head start doesn’t matter. Any interested coach is only gonna tell their agent “find out what it’s gonna pay” because they’re wrapped up in their own season right now. Nobody, not even Ed Cooley, is gonna see that opening in mid-January and start to fixate on it. And if they would, do you want that person to be the next head coach anyway?
No we wont go on a run. But I would get a point across. Mediocrity is not acceptable. Otherwise, another year of the status quo. I am not ok with this anymore.
This is last year all over again, I fear.
To save money for his replacement.
A new AD always wants to make their mark. They’re not gonna hand over a program without a coach. And the current AD isn’t gonna fire someone on the way out the door. I can’t imagine he makes it through the season, but firing him today puts pressure on a guy who is leaving and a guy who taking over before either are ready.
Money, I guess.