Thad Matta (pronounced MAH-tuh) (born July 11, 1967 in Hoopeston, Illinois) is the current head coach of the Ohio State University men's basketball team. He was hired as head coach on July 7, 2004 after Ohio State had fired previous coach Jim O'Brien. Matta is the 13th head coach in Ohio State basketball history and guided his first edition of Buckeye basketball to a 20-12 campaign in 2004-05. He is one of just two coaches nationally to post 20 or more wins in each of his first five seasons as a head coach. Matta has led the Buckeyes to two Big Ten Conference regular season championships, a Big Ten Tournament title, a Final Four appearance (losing in the National Title game to the Florida), and the 2008 NIT Championship. Matta also tied the record for most wins by a first-year coach at Ohio State (20).