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Big East Basketball: Ranking all head coaches going into 2023-24 season

By Caleb Hall

Mar 9, 2022; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard Posh Alexander (0) dribbles up court during the first half during the Big East Conference Tournament against the DePaul Blue Demons at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2022; New York, NY, USA; St. John's Red Storm guard Posh Alexander (0) dribbles up court during the first half during the Big East Conference Tournament against the DePaul Blue Demons at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big East Basketball Head coach Thad Matta of the Butler Bulldogs (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Big East Basketball Head coach Thad Matta of the Butler Bulldogs (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

No. 6: Thad Matta, Butler Bulldogs

I know it may be surprising to see Thad Matta right in the middle of a Big East head coach ranking but again I’m basing this list based off recent seasons and how good of a coach they have been known to be recent years. Matta spent his first season as a head coach at his alma mater Butler. Then spending a couple of years at Xavier until he eventually spent his last 13 years at Ohio State. Where he had sweet sixteens, an elite eight, and even made it to the championship game in 2007.

However in Matta’s last 4 years Ohio State didn’t make it out of the first weekend, and his last two years he didn’t even make the tourney. Matta eventually retired because he felt his health was interfering with his coaching. Matta last coached a basketball game in 2017 until he was rehired in 2022 by his alma mater Butler.

He struggled in his first year back at Butler where he led the Bulldogs to a 14-18 (4-16) overall record. Again Matta can turn things around quickly and Butler basketball needs it to happen badly. I’m not counting out Matta to move Butler back to the top of the Big East, but it’s hard to see it happening next season. Again, Matta has proved he can win in all facets of college basketball, but that was 6 years ago and it is difficult to put a coach towards the top based off coaching we saw 6 years ago. Matta may prove to be a genius move for Butler but only time will tell.

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