Matta became Butler’s head coach in 1999-2000. He was named 2000–01 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year in his first and only season after leading the Bulldogs to a school record 24 wins. From 2001-04 Matta was head coach at Xavier, where he led the team to three consecutive 26-win seasons, and an Elite Eight appearance in the 2004 NCAA tournament. Matta was hired as the 13th head coach in Ohio State history on July 7, 2004.