The Ohio State basketball program may not be known as a blue blood on the hardcourt like it is on the gridiron, but it’s still got a history many programs would be jealous of. In fact, OSU is among the leaders in Final Four appearances and Big Ten championships.
To reach those ends, the Buckeye program has had to be led by some pretty talented coaches throughout history. Whether it be Fred Taylor, Thad Matta, or the current guy pulling the strings, Chris Holtmann, there’s been some pretty good coaches putting together some pretty memorable seasons on the banks of the Olentangy.
But when you put the list of head coaches together at Ohio State, who leads in all-time wins and winning percentage? We know you have a pretty good idea of the top two, but what other coaches are up there, and how does a place known more for slinging the pigskin around line up?
Here’s a look at Ohio State basketball coaching history and who leads the way in all-time wins. We rank from the least amount of wins to the most with winning percentage also noted.
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Total number of wins at Ohio State
15
Overall record with the Buckeyes
15-6 (.714)
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Total number of wins at Ohio State
22
Overall record with the Buckeyes
22-2 (.917)
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Total number of wins at Ohio State
29
Overall record with the Buckeyes
29-33 (.468)
Dick Schnittker, Ohio State’s 6’5 football end, reported for basketball on Nov. 23, 1949, wearing a baseball shirt and holding a football and basketball. Schnittker, a senior, played his first college football this fall. He’ll play three basketball games, then go to the football Rose Bowl with the Bucks, and then return to the cage game. He’s with cage Coach William Henry Harrison (Tippy) Dye. (AP Photo)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
53
Overall record with the Buckeyes
53-34 (.609)
Mar 1987; unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Gary Williams on the sideline during the 1987 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Total number of wins at Ohio State
59
Overall record with the Buckeyes
59-41 (.590)
Paul Brown (left), football coach at Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio, outlines one of his favorite plays for Lynn W. St. John, Ohio State University athletic director, on Dec.29, 1940, at New York City. St John is in the market for a coach to succeed Francis Schmidt, who resigned recently, and Brown is considered a leading candidate for the job. (AP Photo)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
79
Overall record with the Buckeyes
79-70 (.530)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 24: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts after a play against the Illinois Fighting Illini at State Farm Center on February 24, 2022, in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
107
Overall record with the Buckeyes
107-56 (.656)
21 Dec 1996: Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Randy Ayers signals during a game against the USC Trojans at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. USC won the game, 79-68. Credit: Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport
Total number of wins at Ohio State
124
Overall record with the Buckeyes
124-108 (.535)
Ohio State’s head basketball coach Jim O’ Brien directs his players from the sidelines during the first half against Wisconsin, Saturday, Jan 3., 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Chris Kasson)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
133*
Overall record with the Buckeyes
133*-88 (.602)
*113 games vacated because of NCAA infractions
Ohio State coach Eldon Miller is hoisted on his teams shoulders after they won the National Tournament over Wyoming 73-63 on Wednesday, March 27, 1986, in Madison Square Garden in New York. Miller is on the shoulders of tourney MVP Brad Sellers and Jim Honigford, right. Miller has already been fired as Ohio State coach and this was his last game for the team. (AP Photo/Ray Stubblebine)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
174
Overall record with the Buckeyes
174-120 (.592)
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes logo prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at the Louisiana Superdome. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Total number of wins at Ohio State
259
Overall record with the Buckeyes
259-197 (.568)
John Havlicek and Ohio State coach Fred Taylor hold the trophy the team won for winning the NCAA Mideast Regional Basketball tournament by defeating Kentucky, 74-64, on March 17, 1962, in Iowa City, Iowa. In the background is a sign carried by Ohio State fans from Middleton, Ohio who attended games here. The men at the right are unidentified. (AP Photo/Larry Stoddard)
Total number of wins at Ohio State
297
Overall record with the Buckeyes
297-158 (.653)