Former Xavier head coach Thad Matta announces retirement
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Butler head coach Thad Matta, who coached at Xavier for three seasons, will retire, the school announced on Monday, March 16.
Matta just finished his fourth season since returning to Butler as the head coach in 2022. He coached the Bulldogs for one season in 2001 before leaving for Xavier.
Butler finished 16-16 overall and lost to Providence in the first round of the Big East Tournament on March 11. Matta earned his 500th career win in February.
"After taking some time to reflect following the end of the season, I have decided that the time has come for me to step away from the sidelines," Matta said in a statement.
The news comes just days after Butler Athletic Director Grant Leiendecker said that Matta would return to coach in the Bulldogs for the 2026-27 season, according to The Field of 68.
On March 13, Akeem Glaspie of the Indianapolis Star reported that Matta would return next season, noting that there was speculation that the 58-year-old would retire.
Matta will remain with Butler as Special Assistant to the President and Athletic Director, the school announced.
Matta led Butler to a 24-8 record in 2001, then left the Bulldogs to become the head coach at Xavier. In three seasons with the Musketeers, he led Xavier to the NCAA Tournament three times and won a pair of A-10 regular season and conference tournament titles.
Matta led Xavier to the program's first-ever Elite Eight berth in 2004.
Matta left in the summer of 2004, leading to the hiring of Sean Miller as Xavier's head coach. Matta went to Ohio State, where he stayed for 13 seasons. He led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament nine times and went to the Final Four twice, including a national runner-up finish in 2007.
Matta went 63-69 in his second stint with Butler. The Bulldogs went to the NIT in 2024 and the Crown Basketball Tournament in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Thad Matta announces retirement from Butler
