Buckeyes Now

REPORT: Xavier Coach Sean Miller 'Leading Candidate' To Replace Chris Holtmann at Ohio State

According to reports, Xavier head coach Sean Miller has emerged as a front-runner for the recently opened job with the Ohio State Buckeyes

Matt Galatzan

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The Ohio State Buckeyes fired head basketball coach Chris Holtmann earlier this month, after two consecutive years of struggles on the hardwood. 

In the absence of Holtmann, assistant  Jake Diebler took over as the interim head coach and has led the Buckeyes to a 2-1 record, including a massive win over the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers. 

However, the search for Holtmann's true replacement is still underway, and according to reports from Eleven Warriors, a potential name may have already made its way to the front of the list. 

Xavier Musketeers coach, Sean Miller.

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Cara Owsley/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

As one of the more experienced coaches in the game today, Miller certainly fits with what the Buckeyes are looking for. 

Not only is he intimately familiar with the state of Ohio from his seven combined seasons with Xavier, but he also sits with a career record of 455-170 over total 19 seasons, with 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including eight trips to the Sweet 16 and four Elite Eight bids.

The bulk of Miller's success came at the highest level with Arizona, where he coached 12 of his 19 seasons. During that time, reached seven NCAA tournaments, had four seasons of 30-plus wins, three more seasons of 25 wins or more, and made the Elite Eight three times. 

Mike Krzyzewski Blasts Ohio State For Chris Holtmann Firing

As for when a final decision is expected to be made, new Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork wants to have something done sooner rather than later.

“The key in all of this is because we have this time we can really do a lot of research,” Bjork told the Columbus Dispatch. "We should have an idea of where are we by Selection Sunday. Are we zeroed in on finalists? Are we zeroed in on a bigger group? Are they still playing? A lot of things will filter out over the next couple of weeks.”

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

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