While a senior at NAIA Taylor University in Upland, Ind., Chris Holtmann endured the wrath of his Hall of Fame coach, Paul Patterson, during a game. Soon after, Holtmann disappeared from the locker room and no one could find him. It turned out that he drove 15 miles to Marion, Ind., and spent the night alone in a hotel. Patterson chucked while recalling the incident by telephone on Friday morning, offering a window into Holtmann’s relentless competitiveness. “It was that serious for him,” said Patterson, who won 734 games at Taylor. “I don’t remember if we won or not. But I’ve slept since then. I don’t know if he has.” On Monday morning, Ohio State announced that Holtmann, 45, would leave his job at Butler University to become the next Buckeyes basketball coach. He agreed to an eight-year deal worth nearly $3 million per season, a remarkable pinnacle for a…
Continue Reading: With Chris Holtmann hire, Ohio State nabs a rising-star coach who knows how to connect
