Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann says a change in the NCAA transfer rules granting immediate eligibility seems virtual inevitable — whether college coaches want it or not.
“It may not be for the best of the game. I think in a lot of ways it’s out of the control of the coaches,” Holtman, whose Buckeyes are 18-4, 9-0 in the Big Ten, said this week on The 4 Quarters Podcast. I think it’s going to happen in spite [of the coaches]…I think 80 percent of the coaches would be in favor of keeping it like it is or whatever the case may be, and still this thing is moving fast and furious so I don’t know if there’s any stopping it.”
As previously reported here, the NCAA says it’s a “ways off from a transfer proposal” despite several breathless media reports indicating the transfer rules for college basketball are set to change imminently.
Both Holtmann and Xavier coach Chris Mack, who also appeared on The 4 Quarters Podcast, said they’re opposed to making transfers immediately eligible.
“I think my stance has always been on transfers, sometimes transfers are great for both parties, both the school and the young man,” Holtmann said. “I’ve never been a believer in a coach putting restrictions on a kid transferring. If a kid wants to leave, if it feels like there’s a better situation, then that’s on him. And maybe there are in some cases.
“I think we’re moving to a place where there are certainly going to be a lot less restrictions on transfers. Now does that mean there’s going to be on rule on a sit-out year or immediate eligibility or it’s going to be based on GPA, I don’t think we’re ready for it to be immediate eligibility but I think it’s trending in that direction and I’m probably in the minority on this from a coaching standpoint in that I get the argument that that year sometimes forces kids to just stick it out a little bit longer and there’s value in that, sticking out a difficult situation and waiting for your time. But I think it’s trending in a direction where it’s going to be a little bit out of our control as coaches.”
Mack is also opposed to making transfers immediately eligible.
“I’m dead set against it,” he said. “This is coming from a guy that transferred himself and sat out the year, it made me a better person. It gave me another year to get my schooling and allowed me to adjust to a new system.
“I understand the graduate transfer. I really do. A kid’s gotten his diploma, wants to move on, I got you. I just think that free agency in college basketball wouldn’t be great for our sport….I think it would become the Wild, Wild West and I would hate to see that happen.”
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