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Butler’s Chris Holtmann to be named new Ohio State coach

Villanova v Butler

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 04: Head coach Chris Holtmann of the Butler Bulldogs reacts in the first half of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 4, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Butler’s Chris Holtmann and Ohio State have agreed to terms for Holtmann to replace Thad Matta as Buckeye head coach.

The deal is for eight years for more than $3 million annually, according to ESPN.

An official announcement is expected shortly.

Holtmann has spent the past three seasons as the coach of the Bulldogs and the past four seasons with the program. He was hired as an assistant under Brandon Miller after three years as the head coach at Gardner-Webb, eventually becoming the interim coach during Miller’s leave of absence.

Butler has been to the last three NCAA tournaments and, this past season, reached the Sweet 16 after finishing second in the Big East. The Bulldogs looked to be a borderline preseason top 25 team next year.

Ohio State’s search appears to have ended in less than a week. The Buckeyes initially were linked with some big names -- Arizona’s Sean Miller, Indiana’s Archie Miller, Xavier’s Chris Mack, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan -- and then saw both Chicago’s Fred Hoiberg and Creighton’s Greg McDermott turn down the job. According to sources, Holtmann was targeted early on in the process, but after initially being passed over things progressed quickly after McDermott turned down the job on Thursday morning.