“I’m kind of an a**hole when I'm bored”: Fired from Ohio State, Chris Holtmann explains why he took “the biggest coaching gamble”
In what CBS analyst Matt Norlander calls the biggest coaching gamble in the NCAA, Chris Holtmann joined the DePaul Blue Demons this summer. The storied program has been one of the worst teams in the Big East, finishing only one season with above .500 in the conference games (2006) since joining the league in 2005.
However, questions about his decision to join the Chicago university have been a common theme. The coach finally gave his answer in an exclusive interview with Norlander in October.
"I'm kind of an a**hole when I'm bored," Holtmann said. "I don't have enough hobbies. I just think I can be irritable. … For me, I don't know how I'd be not having a team, not having a purpose for a year. And if there's a couple opportunities, or an opportunity that kind of grabs my heart, then I need to take advantage of that."
Chris Holtmann is DePaul’s fifth coaching hire since entering the Big East, joining under a six-year, $1.5 million-per-year deal. It is his fourth team after he coached Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs, Butler Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes over 14 years. His first goal for the Blue Demons will be earning an NCAA Tournament bid.
His four predecessors at DePaul failed to lift the team to NCAA standards. The school’s last NCAA tourney was in the 2003-04 season under Dave Leitao, when it played in Conference USA. The program is coming off a 3-29 season, the worst stretch in its history.
Chris Holtmann has started making an impact at DePaul
Even though he does not have a timeline, Chris Holtmann believes that DePaul basketball will be relevant again. As his roster aims to change the narrative, they are already headed to a better season than last year.
This season, the Blue Demons (3-0) have defeated the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles, Prairie View A&M Panthers and Mercer Bears. They averaged a winning margin of 32 points in the last two contests.
This summer, Holtmann brought four new assistant coaches and spearheaded the induction of 14 new players.
As a former Big East, coach, Chris Holtmann's goal in preseason practices was to prepare his players for the physicality and challenges of the Big East. DePaul will play Providence as its first Big East foe this season on Dec. 10.