COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 8 (UPI) -- Thad Matta, who coached at Xavier for three years, is the new men's basketball coach at Ohio State.
OSU's athletic director, Andy Geiger, made the announcement Thursday.
"We are bringing in a wonderful teacher of the game and a tireless worker whose enthusiasm will elevate Ohio State basketball," Geiger said. "I am very excited to have Thad Matta here."
Sean Miller, who was Matta's associate coach, was hired to succeed him at Xavier.
Geiger said Matta, 36, would get a seven-year contract that paid $760,000 the first year with a $300,000 signing bonus, and that terms of the offer were not yet completed.
Matta recently told the Cincinnati Enquirer he was not a candidate for the Ohio State job and would remain at Xavier.
He interviewed with Ohio State officials Wednesday morning.
The OSU job became vacant when Jim O'Brien was fired June 8 amid alleged NCAA violations.
Matta led the Xavier Musketeers to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season. He coached at Butler for one season before replacing Skip Prosser at Xavier.
O'Brien coached the Buckeyes for seven years.
