Thad Matta is retiring as Butler University’s men’s basketball coach but will remain with the university as special assistant to the president and athletic director, Butler announced on March 16.
The decision brings an end to Matta’s head coaching career, which spanned more than two decades and included stops at Butler, Xavier and Ohio State.
“After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines,” Matta said. “The love my wife, my daughters and I have for Butler is what brought us back four years ago, and it feels especially meaningful that I conclude my coaching career here. Butler has always meant more to us than just basketball — and that connection is why I’m grateful to continue working with the university and offering my help in any way I can.”
Matta’s connection to Butler spans four decades. He arrived as a transfer student-athlete from Southern Illinois in the 1980s, earned a degree in education in 1990, and later served two assistant coaching stints before being named head coach in 2000. After successful tenures at Xavier and Ohio State, he returned to Butler for a second head coaching term in 2022.
Matta finishes with a 502-223 overall record, winning eight conference regular-season championships across three programs. He advanced to the NCAA Tournament 13 times, reaching two Final Fours and one national championship game.
His honors include Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year three times at Ohio State, Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year once at Xavier, and Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in 2001 during his first season leading the Bulldogs.
In his two head coaching tenures at Butler, Matta compiled an 87-77 record. His 2001 team set a then-school record with 24 wins, claimed the Midwestern Collegiate Conference championship and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. During his second stint (2022-2026), the Bulldogs earned postseason bids to the NIT and the College Basketball Crown.
“It is hard to fully capture in words what the Matta family has meant to Butler University and to our men’s basketball program,” Vice President and Athletic Director Grant Leiendecker said. “As a student-athlete, two assistant coaching tenures and then twice as head coach at Butler, Thad has given so much to our university and his impact on our student-athletes has been lifechanging.”
Matta transitions to a new role working alongside Butler University President Jim Danko and Leiendecker, offering his experience and insight to support the university and athletic department.
“Thad has made the thoughtful decision, together with his family, to step away from coaching and begin a new chapter in his remarkable career,” Danko said. “He has built a Hall of Fame–worthy legacy in college basketball and has been a valued member of our campus community since he first arrived at Butler as a student-athlete in the 1980s.”
Matta expressed gratitude to Danko, Leiendecker and former Athletic Director Barry Collier, as well as the players, coaches and staff who contributed to the program.
“My commitment to Butler and to the future of this program remains as strong as ever,” Matta said. “I want this program to compete at the highest levels of the BIG EAST and national landscape, and I am excited to be part of what we continue to build here.”
Leiendecker said the university has begun searching for a head coach who aligns with Butler’s values and can lead the program to compete among the nation’s elite.
“We have such an incredible fan base, a storied tradition, play in an iconic home venue, reside in one of the best basketball states in the nation and compete in a truly elite BIG EAST Conference,” Leiendecker said. “I am confident that we will develop a strong pool of candidates. The future is bright for Butler Basketball.”
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. For more news, visit indianapolisrecorder.com
Noral Parham is the multi-media reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
