Big East Basketball: Ranking all 11 head coaches after Pitino/English hires

2. Thad Matta – Butler

Although a native of Illinois, Matta is one of those people who breathes Butler basketball and has been involved with the school on several separate occasions. He played for the Bulldogs for three seasons and was an assistant in two separate stints, eventually succeeding Barry Collier as head coach in 2000. Matta had brief tenures at Butler and Xavier before a long run of success at Ohio State, eventually stepping aside due to health concerns. He was rehired by Butler in 2022, ending a five-year absence from the game.

In his only initial season leading the Bulldogs, he took them to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, an accomplishment for a Horizon League team. Three years later he had Xavier in the Elite Eight and was soon doing great work at Ohio State. In just his third season, he took the Buckeyes to the national championship game after inheriting a program not in ideal shape. Matta would get Ohio State back in the Final Four five years later.

This ranking is about Matta’s past achievements. His 14-18 finish in his first season back at Butler doesn’t inspire confidence, but it’s just the beginning. The roster needs a refresher and it may take a season or two for the Bulldogs to compete in this very tough league again. However unsuccessful Butler has been in recent years, you never complain when a 2-time Final Four head coach comes into the program eager to reshape his alma mater again.