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April 8, 2000 SportsLine.com wire reports |
INDIANAPOLIS -- Thad Matta, an assistant at Butler under Barry Collier
for three years, was hired Saturday as Collier's successor.
Butler Athletic Director John Parry said Matta was the obvious choice for
the job. After Collier accepted coaching job at Nebraska this week, he
recommended Matta as his successor.
"Thad Matta has proven himself to a tireless and successful recruiter for
Butler University basketball," Parry said.
"He has a passion for the game and for Butler that is recognized and
admired by parents, players, staff members, alumni and supporters."
Matta, 32, is a 1990 Butler graduate and served on Collier's coaching staff
the past three seasons. He played on Collier's first Bulldogs team
Collier announced earlier this week that he was leaving Butler following 11
seasons. His Butler team nearly upset NCAA Tournament runner-up Florida in this
year's first round.
He compiled a 196-132 mark, including a 67-29 record the past three seasons
while Matta served as his assistant.
After he resigned, Collier recommended that Matta succeed him as the
Bulldogs head coach.
"He's a Butler guy, he knows the game, he recruited most of players and
he's deserving," Collier told The Star earlier this week.
Besides Matta, the Bulldogs also interviewed former Collier assistant Jay
John, now at Arizona, and former Air Force head coach Reggie Minton.
Matta spent two seasons as an administrative assistant for Collier after
completing his playing eligibility. He left Butler for assistant coaching
stints at Miami of Ohio (1994-95), Western Carolina (1995-96) and again at
Miami (1996-97).
A native of Hoopeston, Ill., he was a two-year starter at Butler and team
captain in 1989-90.
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