Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith introduced Chris Holtmann as the 14th head coach in the history of the men's basketball program on Monday morning. And after he thanked those who assisted in his meteoric rise from head coach at Gardner-Webb just four years ago and explained how coaching the Buckeyes was simply too good an offer to pass up, Holtmann immediately shifted his focus to recruiting.
“That first hour, we started making calls and contacting [recruits],” Holtmann said. “I have some previous relationships with some young men, but our focus this past weekend has been Ohio.”
It was certainly music to Smith's ears, as he repeatedly called recruiting the lifeblood of the program during former head coach Thad Matta's final press conference last week.