Gene Smith explains firing Chris Holtmann in-season

Ohio State Buckeyes athletic director Gene Smith recently had a change of heart regarding the employment status of former men’s basketball head coach Chris Holtmann. Smith decided to part ways with Holtmann, with Ohio State sporting a 14-11 record and six games remaining in the regular season.

Initially, the Ohio State athletic director stated that he would wait until the end of the season to decide the fate of his men’s basketball head coach. Unfortunately for Holtmann, Smith felt like there was no time like the present to make the decision, firing him on February 14. But what exactly brought about the change of heart? On Tuesday, Smith revealed why he decided to make the move to fire Holtmann now instead of evaluating him at the end of the season as originally planned.

“Well, you know, I just felt like looking at the last couple of games, a few games actually, that this team needed different leadership. So I made the change,” said Smith.

Whatever the reason for Smith’s decision is, it is not of much consequence now as what is done is done. Now Ohio State is looking for their next men’s basketball head coach. Given the prestige of the university, the Buckeyes will have their fair share of candidates for the job. So, expect Smith to use this additional time allotted from firing Holtmann in-season to ensure that he makes the best possible hire for the position.

Ohio State to part ways with Holtmann

Ohio State parted ways with their head coach mid-day on Valentine’s Day, according to Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68. Holtmann was in the middle of his seventh season with the program.

“BREAKING: Ohio State has parted ways with Chris Holtmann, source told (the Field of 68),” Goodman wrote on Twitter. “Holtmann went to the NCAA tourney in each of his first 4 years with the Buckeyes, and was set to go the year the tourney was canceled.

“Went all 3 years at Butler and went to Sweet 16. Buckeyes has taken nose-dive the last two years and Gene Smith decided to make move now.”

USA Today’s Steve Berkowitz reported quite a large buyout number for Holtmann.

“Ohio State fires men’s basketball coach Chris Holtmann after seven seasons,” Berkowitz wrote. “Per his contract, he is due a buyout of about $15.5 million, subject to his duty to mitigate. The deal had been set run through June 30, 2028.”

Going into the season, Holtmann had a 123-73 record with the Buckeyes. However, the 2023 campaign and this year did not go as well as the beginning of his tenure.