Chris Holtmann has reportedly agreed in principle to become the next head coach at DePaul, a move that comes exactly one month after his firing from Ohio State. The contract is worth six years, according to CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander.
Holtmann, who was fired by Ohio State and athletic director Gene Smith on Feb. 14 following a difficult winter stretch of nine losses in 11 games, will now lead a Blue Demons program who finished the 2023-24 season with an abysmal 3-29 record and 0-20 conference record, both of which were the worst marks in program history.
Depaul, who fired head coach Tony Stubblefield on Jan. 22 after three seasons leading the program and had Matt Brady fill in as interim for the remainder of the season, also has not made the NCAA Tournament since the 2003-04 season and has just two appearances in the Big Dance in the last 31 years.
Holtmann also rejoins the head coaching ranks in the Big East Conference, where he spent three seasons leading Butler (2014-17). Holtmann racked up a 101-70 record (.693 winning percentage) in that span and took the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in each of the three years leading the program, a success rate that earned him a Big East Coach of the Year honor in 2016-17.
The hiring also makes Depaul the fourth Division-I program Holtmann has led in his 14-year head coaching career, joining Gardner-Webb of the Big South Conference (2010-13) — where he finished with a 44-54 record — Butler and Ohio State (2017-24).
In his seven seasons leading the Buckeyes, Holtmann amassed a 137-86 record (.614 winning percentage) and took the program to the NCAA Tournament in four of his first five seasons. But his tenure was ultimately defined by a poor stretch of play from 2022-24, where he had a 30-30 overall record and a 9-25 record in Big Ten play before his dismissal.
Holtmann is still slated to be owed the remainder of his salary with Ohio State, which is slated at $12.8 million and will be paid in monthly installments through June 30, 2028, the final date of his contract. The contract does not include any information about how Holtmann signing a new deal with another program will affect those stipulations.
Buckeye Sports Bulletin will more on this story as news unfolds
