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F Chris Jent (Former Assistant BBall Coach)

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That is very interesting, because at the time of the Matta hiring, I said that Thad was an excellent choice, but that I would have preferred someone with Buckeye connections, particularly Chris Jent. Turns out that Matta is more than we could have imagined (thus far)...yet Thump had something to say about knowing more about Chris Jent and that he would not be a good choice to be a coach. Maybe this is a step to rectify some of the things that Chris might have done wrong while in Columbus in order to bolster his status as a coach down the line?

Jent was the epitome of a team player on the court, and I think he can really help some of our outstanding players over the next few years recognize how they can use their considerable abilities within the function of the team. I have a hard time seeing him replace Matta anytime soon, however. I can't imagine another college program that Matta would want to take over after what he is establishing in Columbus. Maybe Thad has NBA aspirations? He can certainly compete at the upper-most levels of college basketball in Columbus with the kind of recruiting to which we are witness. The pay ain't too bad, either.:biggrin:
 
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Mr. Incredible said:
At this point, I want to see Matta retire from basketball as the head coach of tOSU basketball program. A John Wooden of sorts in the making? We'll see...

It's great to be a Buckeye.
:osu:
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I'll second that emotion on Matta - one of Gene Smith's first orders of business is getting Matta into a good, long term contract. :cheers:

He can then turn his attention to Bucknuts and negotiate with their congoscenti for a football Offensive Coordinator to be named later :atom:
 
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Yes, Chris Jent has definitely been a class act. I'm sure he will contribute to the success of the team. Jent was truly a "fan favorite". Nobody dove for lose balls as often as Jent. Maybe he will even teach the current players how to acquire the dreaded floor burns. It is great to see him return to complete the requirements for his degree.
 
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This is a huge addition to the program. I hope Chris gets out there in practice and 'thumps some skulls" so to say. He was simply one of the most, if not THE most energetic and gutty players we've ever had here. Going up against Chris in practice every day will make these kids all better players, I hope it pans out that way.
 
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First, we get Butch Reynolds to coach speed and agility to our football Bucks. Then, we get interim ex-NBA coach Chris Jent to come back and be a student assistant for Thad Matta. I think the next move is to hire ex-World's Strongest Man Magnus Samuelsson as a strength and conditioning coach.

Back in my basketball playing days, our team used to call floor burns "Jents". I think that speaks for itself about his effort. NO ONE chased loose balls like him. He was 110% all the time. The game would be so much better if there were more players like him. GREAT hire! Welcome back Chris!!
 
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another jent article

http://www.dispatch.com/cavs/cavs.php?story=dispatch/2005/10/22/20051022-E1-01.html
Jent takes timeout from pros to hit books
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
20051022-Pc-E2-1000.jpg
SHARI LEWIS | DISPATCH Chris Jent, who served as interim coach of the Orlando Magic for 18 games last season, worked as a volunteer manager with the Ohio State men’s basketball team during off-season workouts.
20051022-Pc-E1-0600.jpg
SHARI LEWIS | DISPATCH Chris Jent was once part of a Big Ten championship team at Ohio State, but today he blends in on campus while working to get his degree.
He’s almost 6 feet 7, his listed height back in the day. Yet Chris Jent said none of his fellow students at Ohio State has yet asked him if he plays basketball.
If they did, he’d tell them yes — in 35-and-older leagues.
"Nobody knows who the heck I am. I’m just another student trying to get it done," Jent said.
"If their parents were in (class), they’d probably remember. But (the kids) don’t. They were probably, what, 5 years old when I was playing ball here?"
Thirteen years after helping Ohio State win a Big Ten championship and get one step from the Final Four, Jent has returned to the school to earn the year’s worth of credits he needs for a degree in mass communication. He hopes it pays off in a job coaching basketball in college or the NBA.
Jent, 35, was an NBA assistant with the Philadelphia 76 ers (under his former OSU coach, Randy Ayers) and Orlando the past two seasons and was Magic’s interim head coach for the last 18 games last season. His lack of experience was a factor in him not being retained.
After also failing to land a job as an assistant this season, he decided that after 10 years playing in the NBA, CBA, Australia, Italy and Greece, and a couple more coaching in the pros, it was time he finished work on his degree, which he needs if he wants to coach in college.
"I’m going to try to do what I can to stay in Columbus," Jent said. "I really want to coach, and there’s coaching opportunities in a lot of different places, but I’m just tired of moving around. My son (Jimmy) is 9 and he’s lived in six different European cities and five different U.S. cities. It’s not great for stability. It’d be nice to stay here."
Ohio State coach Thad Matta has no openings on his staff, but that hasn’t stopped Jent from starting to pay his dues. Though NCAA rules prevent him from coaching OSU players, he worked as a manager with them during voluntary off-season workouts, doing what NCAA rules allow. He plans to continue in the same capacity now that practice has begun.
"I can’t be another coach, but I can give them a realistic view of where they are as players and where they are as a team," Jent said. "Maybe I can say some things that coaches can’t say as far as attitude goes and approach to the game. I feel I have a very good idea of what it takes to win. If I could just communicate that to them, then I’m useful."
Matta and Jent exchanged letters a year ago when Matta invited former players to a party at his home after he was hired as OSU coach.
"I thanked him for the invite and told him how much it meant to the former players that he was reaching out to them," Jent said. "All the guys I played with were really excited about being reincorporated into the program."
Matta consulted Jent last spring when Matta and OSU women’s coach Jim Foster searched for a new strength and conditioning coach for their programs. Jent had been hired in that role with the 76 ers, but was not qualified for the job at the college level.
"He told me he wanted to get his degree, and I knew Ohio State has that program for explayers to come back and work on their degree," Matta said. "He was going to register for classes at Connecticut (where Jent lived). I said, ‘Hey, come on back to Ohio State.’ "
Matta said Jent is "absolutely" someone he would consider someday for an opening on his staff.
"He’s a phenomenal guy," Matta said. "A great personality, very sharp, sincere — and he loves Ohio State."
That’s at least a year away, though. In the meantime, Jent has plenty to keep him busy.
"Right now," he said, "I’m just trying to graduate."

[email protected]
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Gotta be the most over-qualified manager in the history of the sport.

I can hear Brayden Bell now - "Hey Chris, toss me a towell and grab me some Gatorade - make it snappy!"
 
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ABJ

Jent staying?

Chris Jent, who was the interim head coach of the Orlando Magic just two years ago, has been helping the Cavs coaching staff for the last month. But it appears as if he has a chance to become a more permanent member. After initially intending to keep the former Ohio State star around just for the opening week of training camp, he's continued to stay in Cleveland and work with players.

``He'll be with us until the end of the preseason and who knows what will happen then,'' Brown said. ``If I believe I need more help there is money there for me to add somebody.''

If he stays, Jent will likely not be a full assistant. But Brown and the Cavs have been in search of a development-type coach for several years. Numerous other teams have coaches assigned to that role. They've discussed the job with several candidates but never have made an official hire.
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