Thad Matta announced March 16, 2026 that he is retiring from coaching but will remain with the University as Special Assistant to the President and Athletic Director.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," said Matta. "The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball—and that connection is why I'm grateful to continue working with the University and offering my help in any way I can. My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever. I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the BIG EAST and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.
"I want to sincerely thank (President) Jim Danko, (Vice President and Athletic Director) Grant Leiendecker, and (former Athletic Director) Barry Collier for their trust, leadership, and friendship. To our players, coaches, and staff, past and present, thank you for everything you've poured into this program and for living The Butler Way. To our fans and the countless people who support us, you are what makes this place so special.
"I will always be grateful for the experiences, the relationships, and the memories Butler has given me and my family. I'm proud of what we've built together, and I look forward to staying connected and contributing in a new way as the next chapter begins."
Matta concludes his head coaching career with a 502-223 overall record, winning a combined eight conference regular season championships at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State, advancing to the NCAA Tournament 13 times, and earning two berths in the NCAA Final Four (2007 and 2012) and one appearance in the national championship game. He was named the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 2001, his first season as the head coach at Butler. Matta was later named Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year three times while at Ohio State and the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year once while at Xavier.
In his Time at Butler (as Head Coach, Assistant Coach and Student-Athlete)
Matta returned to his alma mater in April of 2022 to lead the Butler men’s basketball program as head coach for a second time. He won his 500th career game while leading the Bulldogs to a victory at Georgetown Feb. 18, 2026. His second stint (2022-26) at Butler included appearances in both the inaugural College Basketball Crown in 2025 as well as the 2024 NIT.
Matta began his head coaching career at Butler during the 2000-01 season. He was named 2000-01 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in his one season at the helm at Butler after leading the Bulldogs to a then school-record 24 wins. Butler won a league regular-season championship, a MCC tournament championship and made an appearance in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
A high school basketball standout at Hoopeston-East Lynn in Hoopeston, Ill., Matta was a two-year starter (and three-year letterwinner) for Butler after transferring from Southern Illinois. He led Butler in assists (100) and 3-point field goal percentage (.433) in 1987-88 and in free throw percentage in 1988-89 (.872). He served as a team captain on Barry Collier’s first team in 1989-90.
Matta served as an academic coordinator and administrative assistant at Butler (1991-94) and as Collier’s top assistant with the Bulldogs for three seasons (1997-2000).
As the Head Coach at Ohio State
With the Buckeyes (2004-2017), Matta led OSU to two Final Four appearances including the 2007 National Championship game, a total of nine trips to the NCAA Tournament, five Big Ten regular season championships, four Big Ten Tournament titles, and the 2008 NIT crown. The three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year is the all-time winningest coach at Ohio State where he was 337-123 in 13 seasons, including a 150-78 mark in Big Ten play. Matta is the third all-time winningest coach by percentage in Big Ten Conference history (.733).
While leading Ohio State, he also finished with five NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances, seven Big Ten Tournament Championship game appearances, saw 10 of his former players selected in the NBA Draft, 11 earn first-team All-Big Ten accolades, and posted 20 wins or more in a season 12 times. Matta was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
As the Head Coach at Xavier
In three seasons (2001-04) leading the Xavier program, Matta posted a 78-23 mark (.772) and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers captured two regular-season championships and two tournament titles with Matta at the helm. His 2004 team advanced to the Elite Eight, the program’s best finish in school history. He led the Musketeers to three consecutive 26-win seasons, back-to-back Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championships (2002 and 2003) and league tournament titles in 2002 and 2004.
Additional Experience
Prior to returning to Butler, Matta spent the 2021-22 season as the Associate Athletic Director for Basketball Administration at Indiana University, working closely with Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Dolson and head coach Mike Woodson on all facets of the Hoosier program.
He also served as an assistant on staffs at Indiana State, Miami (Ohio) and Western Carolina prior to returning to Collier’s Butler staff in 1997.
Personal
Matta earned a B.S. degree (education) from Butler in 1990. He and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters, Ali and Emily. All four members of the Matta family are Butler graduates.
Matta's Coaching Profile
| Seasons |
|
Record |
| 2022-present |
Butler (Head Coach) |
63-69 |
| 2021-22 |
Indiana (Associate Athletic Director) |
|
| 2004-17 |
Ohio State (Head Coach) |
337-123 |
| 2001-04 |
Xavier (Head Coach) |
78-23 |
| 2000-01 |
Butler (Head Coach) |
24-8 |
| 1997-00 |
Butler (Assistant Coach) |
67-29 |
| 1996-97 |
Miami, Ohio (Assistant Coach) |
21-9 |
| 1995-96 |
Western Carolina (Assistant Coach) |
17-13 |
| 1994-95 |
Miami, Ohio (Assistant Coach) |
23-7 |
| 1992-94 |
Butler (Administrative Assistant) |
|
| 1991-92 |
Butler (Academic Coordinator) |
|
| 1990-91 |
Indiana State (Graduate Assistant) |
14-14 |
Matta as a Head Coach
| Season |
University |
Record |
Highlights |
| 2025-26 |
Butler |
16-16 (7-13 BIG EAST) |
|
| 2024-25 |
Butler |
15-20 (6-14) |
College Basketball Crown Quarterfinals |
| 2023-24 |
Butler |
18-15 (9-11) |
NIT First Round |
| 2022-23 |
Butler |
14-18 (6-14) |
|
| 2016-17 |
Ohio State |
17-15 (7-11 Big Ten) |
|
| 2015-16 |
Ohio State |
21-14 (11-7) |
NIT Second Round |
| 2014-15 |
Ohio State |
24-11 (11-7) |
NCAA Second Round |
| 2013-14 |
Ohio State |
25-10 (10-8) |
NCAA First Round |
| 2012-13 |
Ohio State |
29-8 (13-5) |
Big Ten Tournament Champion, NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2011-12 |
Ohio State |
31-8 (13-5) |
Big Ten Regular Season Champion, NCAA Final Four |
| 2010-11 |
Ohio State |
34-3 (16-2) |
Big Ten Regular Season Champion, Big Ten Tournament Champion, NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2009-10 |
Ohio State |
29-8 (14-4) |
Big Ten Coach of the Year, Big Ten Regular Season Champion, Big Ten Tournament Champion, NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2008-09 |
Ohio State |
22-11 (10-8) |
NCAA First Round |
| 2007-08 |
Ohio State |
24-13 (10-8) |
NIT Champions |
| 2006-07 |
Ohio State |
35-4 (15-1) |
Big Ten Coach of the Year, Big Ten Regular Season Champion, Big Ten Tournament Champion, NCAA Championship Game |
| 2005-06 |
Ohio State |
26-6 (12-4) |
Big Ten Coach of the Year, Big Ten Regular Season Champion, NCAA Second Round |
| 2004-05 |
Ohio State |
20-12 (8-8) |
|
| 2003-04 |
Xavier |
26-11 (10-6 Atlantic 10) |
A10 Tournament Champion, NCAA Elite Eight |
| 2002-03 |
Xavier |
26-6 (15-1) |
A10 Regular Season Champion, NCAA Second Round |
| 2001-02 |
Xavier |
26-6 (14-2) |
A10 Coach of the Year, A10 Regular Season Champion, A10 Tournament Champion, NCAA Second Round |
| 2000-01 |
Butler |
24-8 (11-3 MCC) |
MCC Coach of the Year, MCC Regular Season Champion, MCC Tournament Champion, NCAA Second Round |
| Record as Head Coach |
21 Seasons |
502-223 (.692) |
At Butler (5 Seasons): 87-77 |
