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Chris Holtmann has finally filled the assistant coaching position on his staff with Tony Skinn. Skinn joins the staff after three seasons with the Seton Hall Pirates.
I've confirmed that the #Buckeyes are planning to hire Seton Hall's Tony Skinn to fill out Chris Holtmann's coaching staff, although the deal isn't complete yet: https://t.co/CiuAjQPNLG
— Adam Jardy (@AdamJardy) May 20, 2021
Skinn replaces Terry Johnson on the staff who left for Purdue earlier this spring. Johnson was the Buckeye’s defensive coordinator, but Jon Diebler has already been tabbed for that role. Skinn worked with the guard position at Seton Hall and was widely know for his recruiting prowess as well.
Skinn started off his college career in the JuCo ranks for one season at Blinn College. He then transferred and played for George Mason for three seasons. As a senior, he was the second-leading scorer on The Patriot’s team that entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed in 2006. That team made a Final Four run taking down Michigan State, North Carolina, Wichita State, and Connecticut before falling to Florida in the semi-finals.
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After his college career, Skinn played for the Orlando Magic’s summer league in 2009 before going on to become the athletic director at Paul International High School in Washington, D.C. in the Brightwood neighborhood in northwest. Skinn was also an assistant coach for AAU program Nike Team Takeover.
He was hired by Louisiana Tech as an assistant coach and spent three years with them before Seton Hall hired him away. While at Tech, the Bulldogs came to Columbus and downed the Buckeyes 82-74 on Nov. 24, 2015 on Ohio State’s home court in a game they never trailed.
Skinn likely gives the Buckeyes a great in around the Washington, D.C. area. The DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) region is where Skinn grew up after moving from Nigeria with his family at the age of two. He lived in Takoma Park just over the D.C. border in Maryland and prior to college. Then following his playing days, as mentioned above, he spent his initial years getting into the coaching business.
It will also be interesting to see if Ohio State and Seton Hall end up facing off this season at the 2021 Fort Myers Tip-Off both teams are scheduled to participate in.