Parents always tell their children to appreciate the little things people do: hold the door open for a stranger, say “please” and “thank you,” don’t underestimate the power of a smile.
It’s time for Ohio State fans to start appreciating the little things that men’s basketball coach Thad Matta does for the OSU program.
Matta has put Buckeye basketball on the map. He keeps the program’s image clean and clear of the NCAA’s compliance department. Even when courting high profile high school prospects, Matta follows the rules. There’s never been a whisper of recruiting violations since he’s been at the helm. There’s no baggage attached to him like a John Calipari or Kelvin Sampson.
With regard to recruiting, Matta is a regular Rembrandt. His ability to recruit is second to none, from finding diamonds in the rough (see Evan Turner) to bringing in superstar classes such as the “Thad Five” and this year’s “Super Six.” He doesn’t just recruit players, he recruits good people. Matta’s players regularly stay out of trouble.
Before taking over as the head of Buckeye basketball, Matta enjoyed an incredible run of success at Butler and Xavier. In his first and only season at Butler, he coached the Bulldogs to 24 wins and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. At Xavier, Matta posted three consecutive 26-win seasons and an Elite Eight appearance, the furthest the Musketeers have ever advanced in the tournament.
In five-and-a-half seasons in Columbus, he’s posted a record of 141-52, already good for third all-time in OSU history, and guided the Buckeyes to a National Championship game in 2007. He’s one of two coaches to win 20 or more games in each of his first nine seasons as a head coach.
Matta’s personality also stands out. Watch him during a game. He’s the polar opposite of Jim Tressel. He looks like he’s in a Richard Simmons video, jumping around and shuffling up and down the sideline. Matta does his share of yelling and screaming, both at his players and the officials, but he’s also not afraid to crack a smile or dish out encouragement.
He’s also a bit of an oddball. Last year in a home game against Wisconsin, Matta was chewing a piece of gum when it subsequently dropped from his mouth to the gym floor, which of course had been dirtied for the past hour or so by the player’s sneakers. Laws of sanitation be damned, Matta, an obvious follower of the five second rule, quickly picked up the wad of gum, popped it back into his mouth, and started chomping away. Tell me another coach that would have done that. Certainly not The Vest.
Matta is under contract through 2016 and makes $2.5 million a year, which makes him the fourth highest-paid college basketball coach in the country. Presumably, the job is his for life, which is pretty good job security for a guy who turns 43 in July.
But Ohio State is the epitome of a football school. If jobs opened up at schools where basketball reigns supreme such as Kansas or Duke, Athletic Director Gene Smith might get a little nervous.
A little appreciation goes a long way. Start by heading to the Schottenstein Center sometime this season and supporting Matta and his troops.
