Sources: DePaul to hire ex-OSU coach Holtmann

Former Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann has agreed a six-year deal to become DePaul‘s next coach, sources told ESPN.

DePaul presented a strong offer of support and valued Holtmann’s track record as a high-end Big East coach from his time at Butler.

Holtmann was fired by Ohio State last month despite going to four straight NCAA tournaments to begin his tenure in Columbus. He led the Buckeyes to a 25-9 (15-3 in the Big Ten) record in Year 1 and won an NCAA tournament game in each of his first two seasons. They earned a 2-seed in the 2021 NCAA tournament, but suffered a first-round upset to 15-seed Oral Roberts, before advancing to the second round in 2022.

After finishing 16-19 last season, Ohio State opted to move on from Holtmann in late January following a 4-10 start to Big Ten play.

Prior to replacing Thad Matta at Ohio State, Holtmann led Butler to three straight NCAA tournaments, winning at least one tournament game each season and making a Sweet 16 run in 2017.

Holtmann started his coaching career as an assistant at Division III Geneva College and moved up the ladder before taking over as the head coach at Gardner-Webb. He took the Runnin’ Bulldogs from 11 wins in Year 1 to a second-place Big South finish in his third season, then left to join Butler’s staff as an assistant under Brandon Miller. When Miller took a leave of absence, Holtmann was promoted to interim head coach and was given the permanent job after just three months.

At DePaul, he will replace Tony Stubblefield, who was fired in January after a 3-15 start to the season. Stubblefield went 25-39 in his first two seasons.

DePaul hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament since 2004 and hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since 1987.