Ohio State Basketball Coaching Candidates; Odds of Holtmann’s Replacement

With a little over one month until Selection Sunday on March 17, Ohio State is looking for a new head men’s basketball coach.

The school announced Wednesday afternoon it fired coach Chris Holtmann after Tuesday night’s 62-54 road loss to No. 20 Wisconsin, which dropped the Buckeyes to 14-11 overall and 4-10 in the Big 10 — one game out of the conference cellar. They also have a dismal 0-7 road record. Ohio sports betting sites list the Buckeyes at +50000 odds to win the national championship.

Holtmann exits Ohio State with a 137-86 overall record and 67-64 mark in the Big Ten since 2017. After enjoying success for the first five years of his tenure (107-56), Ohio State was 30-30 overall with a 9-25 record in conference play the last two seasons. During his reign, he never made the Sweet 16.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, associate head coach Jake Diebler is expected to take over as the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Holtmann will be paid a $12.5 million buyout, and incoming athletic director Ross Bjork will lead the search for his replacement. Now the question is who will that be? BetOhio.com put together a list of possible candidates and probable odds on who might be heading to Columbus to start the 2024-25 season:

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Ohio State Next Basketball Coach Odds

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Cincinnati’s Miller Tops List

Three candidates from the Buckeye State are on the list, with the top choice for the job 109 miles away. Current Cincinnati coach Wes Miller is our top choice at +450 (18.2% chance). Another is 145 miles south of Columbus as Xavier coach Sean Miller is second on our list at +700 (12.5%).

Last year’s Final Four participant, Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May, is third (+1000, 9.1%). Another possibility comes from the resurgent South Carolina basketball program, as Gamecocks coach Lamont Paris (+1200, 77%) is fourth on our list. 

Other possibilities are Dayton coach Anthony Grant (+1200, 7.7%), Charleston coach Pat Kelsey (+1500, 6.2%) and McNeese State coach Will Wade (+1500, 6.2%).

Ohio State has six games remaining on its schedule during the regular season starting with a home matchup against No. 2 Purdue at 1 p.m. on Sunday (CBS). Fanatics Sportsbook Ohio lists Purdue as the favorite for this year’s men’s basketball national championship at +700 odds. Connecticut is second at +800.

The Big 10 Tournament will take place in Minneapolis, March 13-17.

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