Ohio State basketball: AD admits extending Chris Holtmann was wrong

The Ohio State basketball program is moving into a new era once this season is over. The Chris Holtmann era is done. Gene Smith decided to fire Holtmann on Wednesday after another disappointing road loss. Holtmann got fired after almost seven seasons with the Buckeyes and multiple years left on his contract.

Those extra years on his contract were a product of an extension that Holtmann was given before he had earned anything. Prior to his extension a couple of years ago, he had zero Big Ten titles and hadn’t advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. So why did he get it in the first place?

Gene Smith regrets giving an extension to Ohio State basketball coach Chris Holtmann

Speaking at a press conference announcing the firing, Gene Smith admitted regret over that extension. He said he never should’ve given it to him given the expectations for the program. Smith’s expectations for the Ohio State basketball program are to win Big Ten titles and make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament.

If those truly are the expectations, what was Smith thinking? Holtmann hadn’t come close to meeting any of those expectations. In the two years after Holtmann was given the extension, he went 30-29 and made the fanbase apathetic towards Ohio State basketball. A ton of damage was done in that time.

Smith did say that Ross Bjork will be heading the search for a new coach. That’s good news considering Smith hired Holtmann. Smith will help Bjork along the way though. There is a list of names that have been thrown out already, so we’ll see who the Buckeyes decide to engage with and get in for an interview.

It’s a new day for Ohio State basketball. There’s a reason for optimism for this program moving forward. Maybe we’ll see the team pull an upset on Sunday against Purdue? Who knows? Crazier things have happened. That would be a heck of a story though.