Ohio State fans can scratch Jay Wright's name off the list of candidates to replace Chris Holtmann.
According to a report from Adam Jardy of The Columbus Dispatch, Wright is not interested in coaching Ohio State – or any other program, for that matter – two years after he retired as head coach at Villanova.
Wright, who will be a color commentator for Ohio State's game at Michigan State on Sunday, told The Dispatch that he is not a candidate for the Buckeyes' head coaching position. However, he does have respect for Gene Smith, Ross Bjork and the Ohio State athletic department.
"It's a great job," Wright said. "It has an outstanding athletic department, great tradition and fertile recruiting ground. ... It would be a great job, but I'm definitely done coaching."
“It would be a great job, but I'm definitely done coaching.”– Jay Wright
Bjork told The Dispatch last week that Ohio State is in the early stages of its coaching search and that the athletic department has not zeroed in on specific candidates. As the 2023-24 regular season comes to a close and the NCAA Tournament starts, Bjork said he wants to cast a "wide net" in his search, as he believes there is no coach the Buckeyes can't at least call to gauge their interest.
Wright coached at Villanova from 2001-22 and compiled a 520-197 (.725) record. In his tenure, the Wildcats appeared in eight Sweet 16s, six Elite Eights and four Final Fours, winning the national championship in 2016 and 2018.
Now in his second season as an analyst for CBS, Wright said the Buckeyes have talent and whomever Ohio State hires can have immediate and lasting success as the program's head coach.
"These young guys are going to be good," he said. "The situation is a statement on where college athletics are now. Chris was doing a good job, doing it the right way, and that's not acceptable anymore. Any program with a coach in his second year would gladly take what Ohio State has right now.
"Whoever gets the job will have an outstanding team next year. They (Ohio State) will get great candidates."
Almost two weeks removed from Holtmann's firing, former Buckeyes Chris Jent and Scoonie Penn are reportedly interested in the position. Ohio State has also reportedly had feeler talks with Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May.
