Edit: Thad Matta announces immediate retirement.

Submitted by redwhiteandMGOBLUE on

Edit: No longer speculation - Matta announcing his retirement.

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/800406

 

Gene Smith and Thad Matta are having a joint press conference at 2 p.m. today. The topic of the press conference hasn't been disclosed.

— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) June 5, 2017
 

Thad Matta is retiring from Ohio State effective immediately.

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) June 5, 2017

BoFlex

June 5th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

For those who are unaware, Thad Matta has been dealing with severe back pains and a nerve-damaged leg for the last 10 years due to complications from a surgery in 2007. Matta is unable to walk properly without a leg brace, which is also why you see him sitting on a special chair during games to assist him in getting up easier.

There have been speculations about his early retirement even before OSU's recent drop in performance.

Steve in PA

June 5th, 2017 at 9:14 PM ^

A friend of mine plays golf with some OSU guys.  He told me a few years back that when Matta had his surgery it was badly botched.  He didn't sue the university and was essentially given a *wink-wink* lifetime contract.

I had doubted the veracity of these golfing stories but the declining performance of his teams did make me wonder.

House Mother

June 5th, 2017 at 9:41 PM ^

The sports segment on local news tonight showed him accidentally spitting his gum out while yelling at a ref. He immediately bent down, picked it up off the gym floor and popped it back in his mouth...beating the 5-second rule.

trueblueintexas

June 5th, 2017 at 1:10 PM ^

D'Anotnio and Hollis meet with MSU regents in the morning regarding serious program problems. Matta and Smith schedule public announcment at 2:00 to announce Matta will be coaching 1 more year.

Yep, the NCAA is working like normal. 

mGrowOld

June 5th, 2017 at 2:24 PM ^

Pain will age you prematurely as well.  That's really terrible and a reminder that anytime a Dr. uses the words back surgery and the word minor in the same sentence you should think long and hard before taking that option.

Just ask Steve Kerr.  NO back surgery is minor.

Get well soon Thad.

stephenrjking

June 5th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^

Matta and staff arranged to have Chad Carr's house decorated to celebrate an early Christmas. He is worthy of our respect.

We can still point and laugh at the OSU basketball program on the floor.

LSAClassOf2000

June 5th, 2017 at 6:02 PM ^

Strangely enough, there are a couple pieces out there right now speculating that this is exactly what it is, that he was essentially given the opportunity to leave like this or risk struggling for another year and possibly being fired. I have no idea if that's the case for real, but there are a few folks out there saying it.