Ohio State has named former basketball star Scoonie Penn its new director of player development, Buckeyes head coach Chris Holtmann announced Tuesday.
“We are really excited about Scoonie being a part of our staff,” Holtmann said in a statement. “All of Buckeye Nation will know that he is one of the all-time great players and ambassadors of our program. His connection to past and present players is impressive and something I was looking for in this position. He is such an accomplished player and I know his passion for Ohio State basketball is as strong as ever. Please join me in welcoming back Scoonie, his wife Nancy, son Dominiq, and daughters Precious, Jaidien and Jenesis.”
Penn, an Ohio State Hall of Famer, played for the Buckeyes from 1999-2000 and was an All-American in 2000. Alongside Michael Redd, he helped guide Ohio State to the Final Four in 1999 — a feat that was later vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
Penn played two seasons for the Buckeyes after transferring from Boston College. In those two years in Columbus, Penn averaged 16.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
“I want to thank Coach Holtmann for giving me this opportunity,” Penn said in a statement. “I am very excited to be a part of the basketball staff at Ohio State. I've always felt like coaching was a calling of mine and there isn’t a better place to have a chance to learn than the university that I attended and care so much about. It's going to be fun to learn from Coach Holtmann and the rest of the staff.”
