Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann will be losing another assistant, and this time it’s his right-hand man Ryan Pedon.
The Columbus Dispatch first reported the news, with Illinois State confirming the hire on Friday in a release using its Twitter account.
“I am extremely excited to be joining the Redbird family. I would like to thank President Kinzy, Kyle Brennan, and Mark Muhlhauser for this opportunity,” Pedon said. “My family and I have been committed to finding the right fit all along. Simply stated, Illinois State checks every one of our boxes. Great people, strong academics, a highly competitive environment, a proud alumni base, and a campus/community that will allow us to recruit at a high level. The tradition of Illinois State Men’s Basketball is well-documented, and we will embrace this at every level. My family and I are so grateful for this opportunity and look forward to building something very special at Illinois State.”
Prior to the official announcement, Pedon said it was a lifelong dream of his to become a head coach, and he’s excited about the opportunity.
“It’s a great feeling,” Pedon told the Columbus Dispatch. “It’s always been a dream of mine to be a head coach. It’s sort of the final piece to the puzzle that I haven’t experienced. I feel like I’ve stepped on every rung of the ladder in this profession, and that’s the final one I hadn’t stepped to.
“I feel a real sense of satisfaction because I was very disciplined in what jobs I pursued and I feel like there was an element of fate here that led me to this job. I believe in my heart it’s a job that fits me at the highest level.”
Join us in welcoming the 20th head coach in Redbird Men's Basketball history Ryan Pedon! #REDBIRDhoops
📰: https://t.co/Aeo5vDcfbQ pic.twitter.com/iAzaJWlB4j
— Redbird Men's Basketball (@Redbird_MBB) March 4, 2022
Pedon had been with Holtmann ever since he came to Ohio State five years ago. He’s been the central piece of the Buckeye offense that has been among the leaders in efficiency over the last couple of seasons, and his departure will leave a big gap in that department as well as recruiting.
We wish Pedon, a Bexley native, nothing but the best at taking on his first role as a head basketball coach.
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