The Ohio State basketball coaching search is already something of a PR misadventure. Multiple coaches have publicly, firmly indicated they plan on staying at the current jobs. Those coaches are:
- Creighton's Greg McDermott
- Xavier's Chris Mack
- Chicago Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg
The notion that Billy Donovan would leave Oklahoma City, just maybe, for Ohio State? That's pretty much dead.
Now the question becomes: Who can Ohio State get? Sources told CBS Sports on Thursday that Tom Crean, Mick Cronin and Ed Cooley -- names that had been publicly suggested as possible candidates -- had not been in contact with Ohio State. Additionally, source told CBS Sports that Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams was not seen as a likely candidate at this stage of the search. So, as of early Thursday afternoon, here's an updated list of candidates to consider:
Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown: This might qualify as a moonshot hire, as Brown is an NBA-first guy. But the Columbus Dispatch reports Ohio State "will meet" with Brown -- who is in the state now because of the NBA Finals happening in Cleveland -- on Thursday. Brown has never coached in college. But he does have Columbus roots, and of course previously coached in-state with the Cavaliers.
Butler coach Chris Holtmann: Holtmann has been a logical candidate for Ohio State from the get-go. The 45-year-old has done very well for himself in just three years at Butler, going 70-31 and, this past season, getting Butler to a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. That's the highest slot ever for the program. As I wrote earlier this week: Holtmann wouldn't be a huge hire in name, but I think he could get Ohio State back to consistent top-five-in-the-Big-Ten status. He's a worthy replacement to Matta.
Ohio State assistant Chris Jent: If all else falls through, Jent should be the guy. He has the support of former Buckeyes, players in the NBA who still have a presence around the program. So Jent could be the holdover option -- and it seems some of OSU's base wants this -- while a full-scale search can evolve over the course of next season.
South Carolina coach Frank Martin: Martin's name has been discussed as a logical potential candidate, particularly on the heels of making South Carolina history in getting that program to its first Final Four. So he has the credentials to warrant getting an interview, but it's unknown whether or not he'll wind up having that chance. Martin has the recruiting ability and the personality to match what Ohio State could be looking for.