Former Ohio State basketball coach Jim O’Brien has been hired by Emerson College, a Division III school in Boston, to the same position.

“We are extremely excited to have attracted someone with Jim’s talent and experience to Emerson. He will help the basketball program build on its many past successes,” said Kristin Parnell, athletic director at Emerson College, in an email to The Lantern.

Hank Smith, who coached the Emerson basketball program for the past 16 seasons, left the program to “pursue other interests,” according to a Jan. 21 statement.

Emerson finished with a record of 10-16 last season.

O’Brien has lived in Boston, where he played basketball at Boston College, since being fired from OSU in 2004. He also coached at Boston College before coming to OSU.

O’Brien was fired from OSU on June 8, 2004, after he admitted to giving a recruit, Aleksandar Radojevic, $6,000 in cash.

Emerson does not award athletic scholarships.

O’Brien was replaced by current coach Thad Matta.

Matta did not return multiple attempts for comment.