Ohio State will seek a new men’s basketball head coach after abruptly firing Chris Holtmann last week. One familiar face is reportedly eyeing the opportunity.
According to The Columbus Dispatch‘s Adam Jardy, former Buckeyes star James “Scoonie” Penn is interested in the job. He’s currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies.
Penn averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in two seasons with the Buckeyes. The Boston College transfer steered Ohio State to the Final Four while leading the Big Ten with 88 three-pointers during the 1998-99 season.
Although the Atlanta Hawks drafted Penn in the second round, he never played in the NBA. The 5-foot-10 guard played overseas for numerous professional teams.
Ohio State inducted Penn into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Four years later, he joined Holtmann’s staff as the director of player development.
“I’ve always felt like coaching was a calling of mine and there isn’t a better place to have a chance to learn than the university that I attended and care so much about,” Penn said when joining Ohio State in 2017. “It’s going to be fun to learn from Coach Holtmann and the rest of the staff.”
Penn has worked for the Grizzlies since head coach Taylor Jenkins hired him in 2019. Memphis is 20-36 and will play the rest of the season without star guard Ja Morant, who suffered a shoulder injury.
After firing Holtmann, Ohio State upset No. 2 Purdue on Sunday behind interim head coach Jake Diebler.