Matta Back Coaching Butler

[IM4X]

Big East will have a major upgrade in coaching this coming season.

Thad is following Sean’s steps in his decision to return to his first head coaching gig.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33662498/thad-matta-making-return-coaching-takes-butler-bulldogs-men-basketball-hc-job%3fplatform=amp

[Blue Blooded-05]

Can’t wait to “welcome” him back to Cintas

[XU-PA]

Back to the future they go
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33662498/thad-matta-making-return-coaching-takes-butler-bulldogs-men-basketball-hc-job

[Irishjohn68]

We must crush Butler. Glad we have Sean then Thad.

[bobbiemcgee]

Wow. BE is stacked with quality coaches.

[GoMuskies]

If Georgetown just gets rid of Ewing and hires Mack, Xavier will be the cradle of Big East coaches (including our own).

[IM4X]

I am not going to lie: I am a little concerned about Butler getting Matta. He is an elite level coach. Anyone who does not believe so is fooling himself. Many X fans will declare that Miler is the best coach Xavier ever had. I love that we have Sean, but that notion is certainly debatable. Thad Matta was not only Sean’s mentor, he left X and took another school to two Final Fours. He also had the higher winning percentage as an X head coach. There is no denying those facts. Sean is an amazing coach, but he did not make it to a Final Four when he left X. The two of them playing against each other will help settle who is truly the better coach. If Thad can prove to be healthy enough, he is going to be one sneaky-smart hire for Butler.

[xukeith]

I am not going to lie: I am a little concerned about Butler getting Matta. He is an elite level coach. Anyone who does not believe so is fooling himself. Many X fans will declare that Miler is the best coach Xavier ever had. I love that we have Sean, but that notion is certainly debatable. Thad Matta was not only Sean’s mentor, left X and took another school to two Final Fours. He also had the higher winning percentage as an X head coach. There is no denying those facts. Sean is an amazing coach, but he did not make it to a Final Four when he left X. The two can of them playing against each other will help settle who is truly the better coach. If Thad can prove to be healthy enough, he is going to be one sneaky-smart hire for Butler.

We will see how coaches in their 50's do. I would rank Matta #1 and Miller #2 as all-time Xavier coaches. Matta is good. Miller is very very close though to #1.

[xukeith]

What excuse does Butler have when they are 5th-9th in BE next year?

[xavierj]

We will see how coaches in their 50's do. I would rank Matta #1 and Miller #2 as all-time Xavier coaches. Matta is good. Miller is very very close though to #1.

Sean was and is Better than Thad. Sean also got absolutely screwed against him in Lexington after coaching circles around him. Sean will own him.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Who has the better back? I rest my case

[Masterofreality]

Unconcerned

[Jumpin_Jamal_Forever]

Attracting good coaches is good for the conference just as is attracting good players. And what's good for the conference is good for X.

[xudash]

Especially as X builds towards beating all these good coaches consistently!

[xukeith]

Sean was and is Better than Thad. Sean also got absolutely screwed against him in Lexington after coaching circles around him. Sean will own him.

Miller 422–156 (.730) vs Matta 439-154 (.740)



Matta has 6 Sweet 16's appearances . Miller has 7 Sweet 16's.

Matta 3 Elite 8's 1 Final 4

Miller 4 Elite 8's.

[xavierj]

Miller 422–156 (.730) vs Matta 439-154 (.740)



Matta has 6 Sweet 16's appearances . Miller has 7 Sweet 16's.

Matta 3 Elite 8's 1 Final 4

Miller 4 Elite 8's.

Right. But head to head, with much less talent, Sean coached circles around him and got screwed.

[xuphan]

Right. But head to head, with much less talent, Sean coached circles around him and got screwed.

This 100%!

[UCGRAD4X]

Miller 422–156 (.730) vs Matta 439-154 (.740)

Matta has 6 Sweet 16's appearances . Miller has 7 Sweet 16's.

Matta 3 Elite 8's 1 Final 4

Miller 4 Elite 8's.

Except for the fact that we're now talking about Butler.

[CP05XU08CU13]

Attracting good coaches is good for the conference just as is attracting good players. And what's good for the conference is good for X.

Could not agree more. My guess is that Christopher put out feelers to both Miller’s and Marta’s camps, but Matta did not express any interest. His family ties to Butler is what swayed him in the end it sounds like.

[waggy]

I don’t know if Gillan was X’s best coach but there were definitely aspects of the program under him that I really liked.

[boozehound]

I wonder how much Thad has left in the tank? I guess we will find out. He's only 54 and plenty of coaches have coached much older than that, however Butler is a program that you have to really sell to recruits. It's a job that takes energy and probably requires direct recruiting on his part to land players.

[IM4X]

Could not agree more. My guess is that Christopher put out feelers to both Miller’s and Marta’s camps, but Matta did not express any interest. His family ties to Butler is what swayed him in the end it sounds like.

I think the word Christopher was hearing was that Sean wanted the job if available (and he not have a job), which kind of forced Our AD’s hand to go all-in on Sean, if we were at all interested. Both Matta and Miller are exceptional hires in terms of their coaching abilities. I think Sean was both a perfect fit and the safer fit for X because he expressed that he really wanted the job and he is not having back and leg issue (which have really made things hard on Thad as a coach).

You just never know if after a year or two, the job becomes too physically challenging for Thad’s body and he decides he needs to walk away. With Miller, there is the concern with suspension to worry about, but you’ve got to feel pretty good both with the fact he wants to be here for the long haul and he doesn’t have the health issues that would change that feeling.

[Masterofreality]

Could not agree more. My guess is that Christopher put out feelers to both Miller’s and Marta’s camps, but Matta did not express any interest. His family ties to Butler is what swayed him in the end it sounds like.

Matta literally lives across the street from AD Barry Collier.

[JEHARDI]

Miller 422–156 (.730) vs Matta 439-154 (.740)



Matta has 6 Sweet 16's appearances . Miller has 7 Sweet 16's.

Matta 3 Elite 8's 1 Final 4

Miller 4 Elite 8's.

Matta - 2 final fours, made it one championship game and lost.

[IM4X]

I don’t know if Gillan was X’s best coach but there were definitely aspects of the program under him that I really liked.

He absolutely deserves to be in the conversation when the topic of “best X coach” is being discussed. He put X on the map. For that reason, he is arguably X’s most important Coach. The best coach is debatable. At least 4 past X coaches having some supporting evidence as to why they ought to be in the conversion for “best X Coach.”

I am ecstatic to have Sean back. I would love nothing more than for him to get X to a few Final Fours and even win a few national championship and cement his fate as Xavier’s GOAT.

[xukeith]

Matta - 2 final fours, made it one championship game and lost.

2007 and 2012 were his 2 Final 4 appearance.

[Olsingledigit]

I wonder how much Thad has left in the tank? I guess we will find out. He's only 54 and plenty of coaches have coached much older than that, however Butler is a program that you have to really sell to recruits. It's a job that takes energy and probably requires direct recruiting on his part to land players.

Miller is I believe 53. Are counting Matta’s health issue at OH State as the difference?

[xu82]

I was surprised to see Matta is only about one year older than Sean. I wish him well in terms of his health, but it seemed to age him. I hope he survives the grind.

[Olsingledigit]

Let’s say 5 or even six BE teams make the NCAA each year. That means somewhere around 5 coaches (some teams will go in and out of the tournament from year to year) of the current eleven will be in jeopardy of losing their job in the next five years. Who are the likely suspects. Go five deep.

[xukeith]

Let’s say 5 or even six BE teams make the NCAA each year. That means somewhere around 5 coaches (some teams will go in and out of the tournament from year to year) of the current eleven will be in jeopardy of losing their job in the next five years. Who are the likely suspects. Go five deep.


I agree . This is the first thing I thought of when Butler hired Matta .

Next season, some excellent coaches will be on the outside looking in(NCAA Tourney) for the first time in a long time.

I am guessing Matta and others are in for some growing pains.

To prevent X being a loser, Miller will need to stock the transfer and frosh market with all stars.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Big East will have a major upgrade in coaching this coming season.

Thad is following Sean’s steps in his decision to return to his first head coaching gig.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33662498/thad-matta-making-return-coaching-takes-butler-bulldogs-men-basketball-hc-job%3fplatform=amp

I think this is a homerun hire for Butler. If Matta has some of his health issues figured out I'm not sure how they could have done better.

Havent read the whole thread but I am sure it has been mentioned he is only 54. Miller is 53, Mack is 52. I think most of us think of Matta at least a decade older but nope.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I am not going to lie: I am a little concerned about Butler getting Matta. He is an elite level coach. Anyone who does not believe so is fooling himself. Many X fans will declare that Miler is the best coach Xavier ever had. I love that we have Sean, but that notion is certainly debatable. Thad Matta was not only Sean’s mentor, he left X and took another school to two Final Fours. He also had the higher winning percentage as an X head coach. There is no denying those facts. Sean is an amazing coach, but he did not make it to a Final Four when he left X. The two of them playing against each other will help settle who is truly the better coach. If Thad can prove to be healthy enough, he is going to be one sneaky-smart hire for Butler.

I do think Sean is the best coach in X history, however, Matta is easily the second most accomplished coach in the BE now and I think it was a great hire for Butler.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Miller 422–156 (.730) vs Matta 439-154 (.740)



Matta has 6 Sweet 16's appearances . Miller has 7 Sweet 16's.

Matta 3 Elite 8's 1 Final 4

Miller 4 Elite 8's.

Matta has 2 final 4's.

Again, I'd rather have Miller for a couple reasons, but Matta is legit.

[LadyMuskie]

Unconcerned

Same. The game we lost to Thad head to head had less to do with coaching and more to do with the referees' desire to hand the game to Greg Oden the ugly on the silver platter because of Thad's nonstop...complaining that the ogre under the basket was being fouled. When we beat Butler over and over and over again (and we will) we can refer to it as The Great Avenging of Justin Cage.

[xu82]

Same. The game we lost to Thad head to head had less to do with coaching and more to do with the referees' desire to hand the game to Greg Oden the ugly on the silver platter because of Thad's nonstop...complaining that the ogre under the basket was being fouled. When we beat Butler over and over and over again (and we will) we can refer to it as The Great Avenging of Justin Cage.

That was some pretty egregious reffing, and Oden admitted his intent afterward. Two wrongs make…..two wrongs. The refs were bad, and Oden should have been smart enough to at least be vague about his intentions. Karma can be a bitch.

[IM4X]

I do think Sean is the best coach in X history, however, Matta is easily the second most accomplished coach in the BE now and I think it was a great hire for Butler.

Yeah, for me it is too early to crown Sean the best to coach at X. As you mention, Thad is more accomplished and then there’s Thad’s higher winning percentage. I do think Sean has a big opportunity now to show he deserves the title by taking X to the Final Four and beyond and by getting the better of Thad when X goes head to head with Butler.

[profson]

Matta is an elite coach but I wonder if he will have the energy, stamina and interest to do recruiting as is required today. Let’s also see who the assistants are as his contacts may be stale. Butler is harder to sell than OSU and more so in the NIL era.

[sirthought]

Pretty sweet deal for Matta. If he separates from them for whatever reason he's likely to get a nice severance package, or maybe an admin gig. Good money if you can get it.

[UCGRAD4X]

Anticipation for next year is keeps growing.

Soon after final tonight I expect news about assistant hires and player movement to begin to ramp up.

[boozehound]

Miller is I believe 53. Are counting Matta’s health issue at OH State as the difference?

Health issues. I also think that Matta looks a good 10 years older than Miller. From what I understand his health issues at OSU weren't really the kind of thing that 'goes away', you just learn to live with it and deal with flare ups from time to time.

Thad's issues were severe enough that 5 years ago he stepped away from coaching and stayed away for 5 years. That's a long sabbatical. Miller stepped away from coaching for 1 year and was chomping at the bit to get back the whole time. It appears that Miller has more energy available to put into coaching.

[Dblue]

Health issues. I also think that Matta looks a good 10 years older than Miller. From what I understand his health issues at OSU weren't really the kind of thing that 'goes away', you just learn to live with it and deal with flare ups from time to time.

Thad's issues were severe enough that 5 years ago he stepped away from coaching and stayed away for 5 years. That's a long sabbatical. Miller stepped away from coaching for 1 year and was chomping at the bit to get back the whole time. It appears that Miller has more energy available to put into coaching.

I saw a few articles mention that he's not been interested in coaching recently. It'll be interesting to see if he actually coaches like a motivated coach or if it ends up being the basketball equivalent of Tubberville to UC.

[Olsingledigit]

I saw a few articles mention that he's not been interested in coaching recently. It'll be interesting to see if he actually coaches like a motivated coach or if it ends up being the basketball equivalent of Tubberville to UC.

Or Tay Baker to X.

[IM4X]

Anticipation for next year is keeps growing.

Soon after final tonight I expect news about assistant hires and player movement to begin to ramp up…

And then news about Mack being hired to takeover at Georgetown and Gillen replacing Mike Anderson at St. John’s. Why not? Then we can really prove - once and for all - who is the best coach X ever had.

[Muskie]

Greg Oden could be a part of Matta's staff at Butler.

[LadyMuskie]

Greg Oden could be a part of Matta's staff at Butler.

Gross. It would be just one more - of many - reasons to hate Butler and their messed up water fountains.

[sirthought]

And then news about Mack being hired to takeover at Georgetown and Gillen replacing Mike Anderson at St. John’s. Why not? Then we can really prove - once and for all - who is the best coach X ever had.

Gosh, that would be fun to see. Maybe 75 year old Bob Stack could work at DePaul.

Gillan to St. Johns would be great, although not sure he'd want to try at this point in life.

Mack at Georgetown would be an upgrade and a program with the history he'd probably like in a job. Although there were issues, his work at Louisville wasn't really that bad, so I wonder if the relationship was just too damaged from how everyone dealt with the Dino Gaudio incident.

[boozehound]

Gosh, that would be fun to see. Maybe 75 year old Bob Stack could work at DePaul.

Gillan to St. Johns would be great, although not sure he'd want to try at this point in life.

Mack at Georgetown would be an upgrade and a program with the history he'd probably like in a job. Although there were issues, his work at Louisville wasn't really that bad, so I wonder if the relationship was just too damaged from how everyone dealt with the Dino Gaudio incident.

By many accounts Chris Mack has been a megadouche for nearly all his life, so I imagine that throughout the Dino situation he probably did a number of things that didn't exactly endear him to the administration. The biggest problem was obviously that he completely lost the team in almost unbelievable fashion. I'm not sure what exactly led to that, but he may have survived had that never happened. We will never know.