Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg emerged as a candidate for the vacant head-coaching position at Ohio State, according to a Wednesday-night report.
But as of Wednesday evening, senior Bulls officials weren’t aware of Ohio State’s apparent interest, and sources tell CSNChicago.com that Hoiberg has “no interest” in the position.
Ohio State parted ways with coach Thad Matta earlier this week and has begun a search for his replacement, armed with the second biggest athletic department budget in the NCAA, behind the University of Texas.
Hoiberg has three years and $15 million left on his deal with the Bulls, a tenure that has come with mixed reviews locally and across the NBA. The Bulls missed the playoffs in Hoiberg’s first season and made the postseason this past season, losing a first-round series to the Boston Celtics in six games.
CBS Sports reported the Buckeyes’ apparent interest Wednesday evening, and some felt a retreat back to the collegiate ranks would be best suited for Hoiberg, as the Bulls haven’t surrounded Hoiberg with a roster best suited to his style and he’s been subject to criticism — along with a seemingly lukewarm endorsement from the front office in the season-ending news conference last month.
Hoiberg, who coached at his alma mater, Iowa State, before taking the head-coaching position with the Bulls two years ago, is familiar with Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. Hoiberg was a player at Iowa State while Smith was the athletic director. Smith ran that department from 1993 to 2000, before his path eventually led him to Ohio State.