Chris Holtmann was sacked by Ohio State, ending his men’s basketball coaching career just short of his eighth season in Columbus.

Associate head coach Jake Diebler will lead the Buckeyes in an acting capacity for the remainder of the season, the school announced on Wednesday.

At a news conference on Wednesday, departing Ohio State sports director Gene Smith stated, Our job is the program. I just felt at this particular time, with six regular season games left and the Big Ten tournament and whatever the playoffs bring, a spark was needed. Well, in the end, it’s all about the program, so I have to put my emotions aside and do what’s best.

“Obviously something I’ve been thinking about for a little time, Smith stated of the coaching move.

With four years left on his deal that expired during the 2027–2028 season, Holtmann will get a $12.8 million buyout, according to a press release from the university.

The process of finding Holtmann’s successor will be headed by Ross Bjork, the new athletic director. Although Bjork won’t take over as Ohio State’s AD until July, the university said on Wednesday that he will take on a temporary position in the athletic department on March 1 as Smith’s senior adviser.

The Buckeyes’ 62-54 loss at Wisconsin on Tuesday marked their ninth straight loss in 11 games; as a result, they are now 4-10 in the Big Ten and 14-11 overall.

Prior to being hired by Ohio State in 2017 to succeed Thad Matta, Holtmann guided Butler to three consecutive NCAA tournaments. With a 25-9 (15-3 in the Big Ten) record in his first year at Ohio State, he advanced to the NCAA tournament twice in a row and won a tournament game each time. In 2022, Ohio State University was ranked second in the NCAA tournament. However, they were stunned by Oral Roberts, ranked fifteenth, in the first round and did not proceed to the second round.

But Ohio State’s performance in the previous season—16-19 overall and 5-15 in the Big Ten—was a significant regression. Additionally, the Buckeyes have fallen to last place in the Big Ten rankings despite having started the season 12-2.

The road losses and January troubles for Ohio State are well documented. The Buckeyes are 18-29 in January games over the last six seasons and haven’t won on the road since January 1, 2023.

Prior to taking over as head coach at Gardner-Webb, Holtmann ascended the coaching ranks as an assistant at Division III Geneva College. After leading the Runnin’ Bulldogs from 11 victories in their inaugural season to a second-place Big South result in their third, he departed to go as an assistant for Butler under Brandon Miller. After just three months, Holtmann was granted the permanent position of head coach following Miller’s leave of absence.