Ohio State is on the verge of finalizing a deal with Jake Diebler to become the new full-time men’s basketball coach. This development comes after Diebler stepped in as the interim coach following Chris Holtmann’s departure last month. A reliable source shared this update with CBS Sports on Saturday, confirming earlier reports by The Columbus Dispatch.
Jake Diebler, 37, is a proud alumnus of Valparaiso and has been part of the Ohio State coaching staff since 2019. His promotion to interim coach came after Holtmann was let go last month. Under his leadership, the Buckeyes secured a 6-2 record, including significant wins against Purdue and Nebraska. Diebler’s performance in these eight games demonstrated his capability to lead, convincing the Ohio State administration he is the right choice for the role, despite his lack of previous head-coaching experience.
Before his tenure at Ohio State, Diebler contributed as an assistant coach to Bryce Drew at Vanderbilt. It was there he made a name for himself as a top recruiter by securing 5-star prospect Darius Garland. Diebler’s recent success as a coach, combined with his proven track record in recruitment, gave the Ohio State officials the confidence to appoint him, a move that seemed unlikely when Holtmann was dismissed on Valentine’s Day.