Butler Basketball appoints Thad Matta as head coach to replace LaValle Jordan

Indianapolis – Thad Matta Coach Butler is returning to basketball.

The university announced this on Sunday morning. Matta will be introduced at Wednesday’s news conference, according to a news release.

Matta, who spent this past season as an associate athletic director at Indiana University, will be reintroduced Wednesday at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He replaces Lavelle Jordan, who was fired Friday after five years leading the Bulldogs program.

“Butler is a special place that Bar, Ali, Emily and I have each chosen as our school,” Matta said in a news release. “I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Butler and lead our men’s basketball program.

“There’s a solid base there and I believe Butler will continue to be one of the top shows in the Big East. I can’t wait to come back and attack the work we have in front of us. Hinkle Fieldhouse.”

Health issues effectively ended Matta’s coaching career at Ohio State.

He lives across the street from athletic director Barry Collier, who once hired Matta as a Butler assistant coach. And Matta brought 23-year-old Brad Stevens to Butler, appointing him as director of basketball operations.

Matta coined the phrase “The Butler’s Way”. He was 24–8 in his only season as Butler’s head coach, marking the Bulldogs’ first NCAA Tournament victory in 32 years.

Matta has a 17-year coaching record of 439-154 (.733), amassing an average of 26 wins a year. He was 78-23 in three years at Xavier and 337-123 at 13 years at Ohio State.

He led teams to two Final Fours, four Elite Eights (one in Xavier), five Big Ten Championships and four Big Ten Tournament titles.