What role did Dayton play in hiring of new Ohio State basketball coach?

Chris Holtmann was introduced as the new Ohio State men’s basketball coach Monday in Columbus.

The former Butler coach promised an aggressive, attacking style of basketball and expressed no misgivings about leaving a school where basketball is king for one of the great college football powerhouses.

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“I love it,” Holtmann said. “Love it. I think it’s great. I think it adds to this place. It was exciting quite obviously.”

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Director of athletics Gene Smith also took a few minutes to describe the coaching search he conducted last week, including the fact it ended in a city known for basketball.

“He and I agreed to meet Thursday morning,” Smith said. “I was able to wake up and get my wife — after three hours of sleep — to drive to Dayton and he did the same thing. He and Lori met me in Dayton at this unbelievable place and we sat and had a great conversation and got to know one another and in that moment he accepted the job.”

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