Big Ten Basketball: Ranking all 14 head coaches for 2019-20 season

3. Chris Holtmann (Ohio State)

In the span of a decade, Holtmann has gone from assistant coach at Ohio to the head man at Ohio State. He replaced Thad Matta, who led this team to the title game back in 2007. He inherited a program in solid shape as a Big Ten contender. In these last few years, Holtmann may have already exceeded expectations, though the work is not yet done.

After a solid playing career alongside John Groce at Taylor University, Holtmann’s coaching career began as an assistant at small Midwest colleges, including his alma mater. Groce brought him aboard his first coaching staff at Ohio. Holtmann’s first head coaching job came at Gardner-Webb in 2010. He improved from 11 to 21 wins in his three seasons. He attracted the attention of Brandon Miller, who added him to his new staff at Butler. When Miller’s health declined, Holtmann took over as Butler head coach, leading the Bulldogs to a slight revival and a Sweet Sixteen in 2017.

When Thad Matta retired, Holtmann was hired by the Buckeyes to lead the program. Little was expected in his first season, but Holtmann led Ohio State to an impressive 2nd place finish in the Big Ten. He has a pair of NCAA Tournament wins, though has yet to lead the Buckeyes into the second weekend. Last season’s 8-12 finish in Big Ten play was clearly a step back, but Holtmann has brought in an impressive recruiting class and things are looking up for the future.

There are certainly people who would have looked sourly on Holtmann’s decision to leave the head coaching job at Gardner-Webb to be an assistant at Butler. Fortunately, this move has really turned the tide on Holtman’s coaching career. He built something with both Bulldogs programs and already has Ohio State trending in the right direction. It’s clearly too early in his career to make any overarching statements, but Holtmann is a relatively young coach with a bright future with the Buckeyes.