Eric Boggs
The Ohio State men’s basketball family celebrated a new addition last week. Head coach Jake Diebler and his wife, Jordyn, joyfully welcomed their fourth child. Julien Jacob Diebler was born on July 2, weighing in at 9 pounds 9 ounces. He joins his siblings Jaymes, Jess, and Jackson in the Diebler household.
Coach Diebler shared the happy news on Instagram, writing, “We welcomed our sweet, 9lbs 9oz, baby BOY into the world. Praising God for His goodness and blessing our family with another precious soul to love!” His heartfelt message was accompanied by an adorable picture of baby Julien.
Buckeyes’ Season Recap
The Scarlet and Gray had an eventful season, making it to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. They secured a significant victory over Iowa with a score of 90-78 in Minneapolis but were narrowly defeated by Illinois, 77-74. Despite a strong late-season push, Ohio State missed the NCAA Tournament bubble and settled for a spot in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
In the NIT, Diebler’s team showcased their resilience with wins against Cornell (88-83) and Virginia Tech (81-73) at home, advancing to the quarterfinals. However, their season ended with a close 79-77 loss to Georgia at Value City Arena.
Jake Diebler’s Journey
Jake Diebler’s connection to Ohio State runs deep. He is the brother of former Ohio State star guard Jon Diebler, and both played high school basketball under their father, longtime coach Keith Diebler. Jake played at Valparaiso before transitioning to a coaching role. He joined Ohio State in 2013 as a video coordinator under then-head coach Thad Matta.
After a stint as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt from 2016-2019, Diebler returned to Ohio State in 2019 as an assistant coach under Chris Holtmann. His dedication and leadership led to his promotion to associate head coach before the 2021-22 season and then to interim head coach on February 14, 2024.
Leading the Buckeyes
Diebler, the first Ohioan to be named Ohio State’s head coach in 35 years, led the Buckeyes to a 6-2 record during his interim period. His tenure began with a stunning victory over No. 2 Purdue on February 19. Although the team faced a setback with a loss to Minnesota, they bounced back with five consecutive wins against Michigan State, Nebraska, Michigan, Rutgers, and Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament’s second round.
As Diebler settles into his role as Ohio State’s 15th head coach, Buckeye fans eagerly anticipate the future under his guidance.
