Report: Butler set to hire Milwaukee's LaVall Jordan

On the same day that former Butler coach Chris Holtmann was introduced as Ohio State's new coach, multiple news outlets reported Monday that the Bulldogs will hire LaVall Jordan to replace Holtmann.

Jordan is a former Butler player and assistant who has been the head coach at Milwaukee since April 2016.

Holtmann was hired last week by the Buckeyes to replace Thad Matta, himself a former Butler player and assistant who spent 13 seasons at Ohio State before he was dismissed.

The Indianapolis Star reported that Jordan met with Butler athletic director Barry Collier on Sunday night and again Monday.

Jordan, 38, is the fourth men's coach in six seasons at Butler, whose previous head coaching replacements were all on the staff when hired.

In his only season at Milwaukee in the Horizon League, Jordan led the Panthers to a 11-24 record. His team advanced to the Horizon League tournament championship game as the 10th seed after going 4-14 in conference play during the regular season.

Butler also interviewed longtime assistant Terry Johnson and its top recruiter, Ryan Pedon, for the head coaching vacancy. The Star reported that Johnson, Pedon and assistant Mike Schrage are expected to join Holtmann at Ohio State.

Jordan graduated from Butler in 2001 and played in Europe and the NBA Development League. He also served as an assistant at Iowa and Michigan.

Holtmann compiled a record of 70-31 in three seasons as Butler coach. In six years as a head coach, which includes three years at Gardner-Webb (44-54), his career record is 114-85.

Holtmann's teams have won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons, including a 25-9 record at Butler last season.

Butler advanced to the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons with Holtmann as the head coach. He was the 2016-17 Big East Coach of the Year, the 2013 Big South Conference Coach of the Year and a Naismith National Coach of the Year finalist in 2014-15.