Sports
CBS Sports: Ohio To Hire TCU’s Christian As Next Basketball Coach
By: Matt Archibald
Posted on:
A report from CBSSports' Jeff Goodman surfaced Sunday evening that said Texas Christian University head men's basketball coach Jeff Christian will replace John Groce at Ohio University. That story hit the web shortly before 7 p.m.
Then, at about 9:30 p.m., Stefan Stevenson, a TCU beat reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, tweeted "TCU's Jim Christian said he has talked with Ohio but has not been offered a job."
Stevenson then posted a story shortly after that stated, "TCU's Christian has talked to Ohio, likely leaving TCU"
Goodman and Stevenson both said Christian will make about what he did at TCU, which was "approximately $590,000," according to Stevenson.
Jeremy Guy, the MAC Director of Communications chimed in on the rumors, which, for better or for worse, came on April Fool's Day.
"For those of you asking – no, this isn't an April Fools joke at all. Being told that the hire is a done deal at Ohio."
If Christian is the next head coach at Ohio, here are some numbers on his coaching career:
He coached at Kent State from 2002-08. In his six-year tenure as the Golden Flashes' head man, Christian amassed a record of 138-58, which included at least 20 wins in each of his six seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2008). Christian finished at Kent State with a conference record of 79-28; his Golden Flashes never finished worse than second in the MAC East and his worst showing in conference came in the 2004-2005 season when Kent State went 11-7.
Christian has not had the same success at TCU. In his four seasons in Fort Worth his Horned Frogs' teams are a combined 56-73. Christian posted his first winning season this past year at TCU with a mark of 18-15. Previously his teams were 11-22 in 2010-2011, 13-19 in 2009-2010, and 14-17 in 2008-2009.
Ohio Athletics refused to comment on Sunday.