WE NEED HIM Back, The Ohio state men’s basketball Owner has announced to fire the head coach Steve Lutz due to Poor performance of…
It’s Official: Ohio State names Jake Diebler as its head men’s basketball coach
It is now official: Ohio State has removed the interim tag and named Jake Diebler as its fulltime head men’s basketball coach.
The university made the announcement moments ago. A press conference with Diebler and athletic directors Gene Smith and Ross Bjork is expected on Monday.
The Columbus Dispatch originally reported on Friday the race for the head coaching job was between Diebler and Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May. That was followed on Saturday with a report that OSU had settled on Diebler and the sides were working out a contract.
On February 14, Diebler was appointed as Smith’s temporary head coach following the dismissal of seventh-year head coach Chris Holtmann. OSU was 4-10 (thirteenth) in the Big Ten and 14-11 overall at the time.
The team is 20-13 overall and has gone 6-2 under Diebler. In the Big Ten race, the Buckeyes placed ninth, finishing 9-11.
With a sad 77-74 loss to No. 2 seed Illinois on Friday night, OSU’s run in the Big Ten tournament came to an end. It was thought that OSU may have advanced to the NCAA Tournament with a victory in that game. Alternatively, the Buckeyes might agree to take a bid in tonight’s NIT. Value City Arena may host one or two games this week featuring OSU.
Diebler is Jon Diebler’s brother, the former Ohio State standout. Their father, veteran prep coach Keith Diebler, was their coach at Upper Sandusky and Kenton high schools.
After completing his playing career at Valparaiso, Jake Diebler worked as a full-time and student assistant there. He was the video coordinator for Thad Matta at OSU from 2013 to 2016. After that, he worked as an assistant at Vanderbilt from 2016 to 2019 before coming back to OSU in 2019 to support Holtmann.
In addition to current assistants Terence Dials (promoted from an administrative role), Mike Netti, Jack Owens, and Brandon Bailey, the Buckeyes defeated then-No. 2 Purdue at home on February 18. After victories over Michigan State, Nebraska, Michigan, and Rutgers, Iowa, ranked seventh in the Big Ten tournament, was defeated 90-78 on Thursday.
For our piece from Saturday characterizing Diebler as the ideal man for OSU men’s basketball at this particular time, click here.
OSU’s statement regarding Diebler’s hiring as head men’s basketball coach is below.
