Greg Oden, the former No. 1 overall draft pick in the NBA whose career was heavily impacted by injuries, has shifted to a coaching role after two years with the Butler basketball team, as reported by IndyStar.
In 2022, Oden joined Butler’s coaching staff alongside his former Ohio State head coach Thad Matta, who returned to Indianapolis to take over as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Matta had guided Oden during his single season at Ohio State, which ended with the Buckeyes losing to Florida in the national championship game. After concluding his professional career, Oden returned to Ohio State to complete his degree and took on the role of student manager for the men’s basketball team just before Matta left the program due to health and performance issues.
After a five-year hiatus from coaching, Matta was appointed as Butler’s head coach, marking his return to a position he had previously held as an assistant for six seasons before becoming a head coach in 2000. Oden, who hails from Indianapolis, served as the director of basketball operations, while Jon Diebler, another of Matta’s former players at Ohio State, was named the Bulldogs’ director of recruiting.
During Oden’s tenure, Butler recorded a 14-18 season followed by an 18-15 record, achieving the program’s first winning season since 2019-20. The Bulldogs also qualified for the NIT, marking their first postseason participation in five years. IndyStar reported that Oden has not disclosed his future plans after leaving the Butler staff.
According to IndyStar, Connor McCaffery, the son of Iowa basketball head coach Fran McCaffery and the boyfriend of Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark, has been considered as a candidate to replace Oden on the Butler coaching staff. Connor’s brother, Patrick McCaffery, recently transferred from Iowa to Butler, and their younger brother, Jack, a recruit for 2025, is also committed to the Bulldogs.
Greg Oden was selected ahead of Kevin Durant
Greg Oden was a remarkable presence in college basketball, becoming the top pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, selected ahead of Kevin Durant, who would go on to become an MVP and Finals MVP. Although this choice appears questionable in hindsight, Oden was widely regarded as the top prospect due to his dominant performance on both sides of the court while at Ohio State.
However, Oden had limited chances to display his skills at the NBA level. Suffering from multiple lower-body injuries, he participated in only 105 regular-season games and nine playoff games, with his final appearance occurring during Game 4 of the 2014 NBA Finals with the Miami Heat.
Oden had a brief stint playing in China and made a return in The Basketball Tournament, but his professional career ultimately fell short of lofty expectations due to the injuries he endured.
Image Source: Greg Oden @ Instagram
