DePaul, Chris Holtmann reach deal to make 52-year-old the Blue Demons’ next men’s basketball coach

MINNEAPOLIS — The Big Ten tournament goes on without Chris Holtmann, who was fired as Ohio State coach in February.

But Holtmann, 52, is making his next move — to DePaul, as perhaps the most credible men’s basketball hire in school history.

It’s a done deal, for a reported six years, a mutual commitment that required unprecedented financial buy-in on DePaul’s end. The school was expected to have more than $2 million annually for its next coach; Holtmann was making $3.5 million a year at Ohio State when he was dismissed. There also has been seven-figure fundraising success for an NIL stockpile, at least putting the Blue Demons in that game, which they weren’t whatsoever under Tony Stubblefield.

Athletic director DeWayne Peevy set a goal of making a hire before April 1 and delivered not only on his timeline, but on a name that will impress the college basketball establishment in the Big East and beyond.

“After an extensive national search, I am proud to welcome Chris Holtmann to Chicago and our Blue Demon family,” Peevy said in a statement. “Chris’ track record as a head coach of high-level programs, demonstrated commitment to excellence on and off the court and NCAA postseason experience made him the perfect hire for DePaul. Chris unmistakably shares our values and our vision for DePaul men’s basketball, recognizes our commitment to the resources required to compete at a high level, and is eager to return our program to national prominence.”

Holtmann took three straight Butler teams to the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2017. He would have taken his first five Ohio State teams to the Big Dance if not for a COVID-19 interruption. As it is, his seven tournaments is seven more than DePaul has been to since 2004.

For DePaul, coming off the unthinkable low of an 0-20 season in the Big East, which included a first-round exit from the conference tournament, reeling in a former Big East coach of the year and Big Ten coach of the year is a clear and impressive victory.

Holtmann’s name was first mentioned in the Sun-Times in connection with the DePaul job in January, after struggling Ohio State — which was 14-11 overall and 4-10 in the Big Ten when Holtmann was fired — got blown out at Northwestern.

“He had the look of a coach who knows he’s in trouble,” the story read. “[If] he goes down, [Peevy] better already be dialing.”

In all, Holtman has 251 wins in 13 seasons as a head coach, the first three of which came at Gardner-Webb, where he also had a Big South coach of the year campaign.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to be the head men’s basketball coach at DePaul,” Holtmann said in a statement. During this process, I was extremely impressed with the commitment, eagerness and vision of DeWayne Peevy and president [Rob] Manuel to build a successful Big East basketball program.”

One of Holtmann’s best seasons came in 2019-20, when Ohio State reached No. 2 in the AP Top 25 and beat four top-10 teams before the postseason was wiped out by the pandemic. His low came in 2022-23, when the Buckeyes went 16-19 and finished in 13th place in the Big Ten.

“I feel for Chris Holtmann and what’s gone on there,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said after Holtmann was fired. “Again, I don’t know all the circumstances; I just know it was five years he was in the NCAA Tournament.”