Ohio State experienced almost no staff turnover between the first and second years of the Chris Holtmann era.
All three assistant coaches – Terry Johnson, Mike Schrage and Ryan Pedon – remained on the staff. Ohio State retained director of recruiting and player development Scoonie Penn, director of basketball operations David Egelhoff and special assistant to the head coach Mike Netti. Strength and conditioning coach Quadrian Banks, trainer Jeff Deits and video coordinator Kyle Davis also stuck around.
On his radio show on 97.1 The Fan on Monday, however, Holtmann hinted that one or more of the three assistant coaches could be in line for head coaching jobs this offseason.
"I would expect that all three will have opportunities in the coming years, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or two of them had an opportunity this year if it's something they choose to do," Holtmann said. "I'll support them. I will do everything I can to help them take that next step."
Holtmann has worked with each of the three assistant coaches for years, preceding his two years at Ohio State.
Pedon spent two years on Butler's staff under Holtmann, and Schrage was with Holtmann for one year at Butler before joining him in Columbus. Johnson worked for 10 years as an assistant coach at Butler, coaching for three years on Holtmann's staff before moving with him to Ohio State.
"I think they've been ready," Holtmann said. "All three of them have been approached about head coaching jobs in the past four, five years. In some cases, they have not maybe gotten the job, and in other cases, they turned the job down or turned down a second or third interview."
If Pedon, Johnson or Schrage accepts a head coaching job elsewhere, Holtmann could consider looking at the support staffers currently at Ohio State to fill an open position. If not, they could try to become assistant coaches elsewhere.
"I think we'll see potentially our support staff try to go get an on-the-floor coaching job," Holtmann said. "We have a number of support staff guys that would like to be on the floor. Andrew Dakich and Scoonie Penn and other guys. Anybody who wants to do that, we'll support the opportunity to take that next step."
Penn has never been an on-the-court assistant coach, but his playing background and two years of experience with recruiting and player development at Ohio State could make him an intriguing candidate. Dakich, a graduate assistant, wrapped up his playing career last year and has never been a full-time assistant coach, either.
Netti, who Holtmann did not mention, is also a candidate to become a assistant coach, either at Ohio State or elsewhere. Before Holtmann hired him as his special assistant, Netti worked as an assistant coach for East Carolina. He and Holtmann were both assistant coaches at Gardner-Webb from 2003 to 2006, and he worked as an assistant a few years later when Holtmann ran the Runnin' Bulldogs program.
Though Holtmann said he isn't sure yet which coaches or support members will leave, he has prepared himself for the possibility of a shift on the staff.
"I think you always experience some change across the board in your program in the offseason," Holtmann said after Ohio State's loss to Houston on Sunday. "I think that's expected now in college basketball. We anticipate that there'll be some of that. What all that looks like, I'm not sure, and haven't put a ton of thought into. But it's an expectation now in college basketball. We'll see with our staff. I have an incredible staff. I wouldn't be surprised if someone does reach out to then."
