Thad Matta decides against taking Georgia job

Former Ohio State coach Thad Matta won’t be returning to coaching with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Matta said Wednesday that he won’t be taking the vacant Georgia job, feeling that he isn’t quite ready to take on the responsibility less than a year after walking away from Ohio State.

Thad Matta told ESPN he is not taking the Georgia job. Story coming.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 14, 2018

Thad Matta on spurning Georgia: "It was the most difficult decision because Georgia is a tremendous opportunity for a coach to build a great program. Unfortunately, I just don’t feel that I am completely ready at this point to give Greg McGarity and Georgia what they deserve."

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 14, 2018

Matta was pretty far down the line in discussions about the Georgia job, so this is a rather surprising about-face. It’s unclear what, exactly, led to him backing out of a job he appeared to be wholly interested in.