Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler has promoted assistant coach Jamall Walker to associate head coach, elevating one of the most seasoned voices on the staff. The Buckeyes continue to be a team trying to find it’s identity under coach Diebler and this is a clear reward for Walker and the impact he showed in his first season in Columbus.
Walker joined Diebler’s staff as an assistant coach in April 2024 and was given the lead on the defensive side of the ball. The promotion caps more than two decades of coaching for Walker, who arrived after four seasons working under Bryce Drew at Grand Canyon. During that span, the Lopes had a record of 94-32, claimed three WAC Tournament titles and made three NCAA tournament appearances.
Before Grand Canyon, Walker spent eight seasons with Illinois under John Groce and Brad Underwood, serving as an interim head coach during the 2017 NIT. Walker helped the Illini notch 15 wins over ranked opponents, six of them against top-10 teams.
Walker’s work in Columbus has garnered national notice. In February, Silver Wave Media named him to its 2026 “100 Most Impactful High Major Assistant Coaches” list, an honor that Ohio State celebrated on it’s social media pages. Walker was a natural for the promotion after Joel Justus departed for Vanderbilt.
Now with the associate head coach title in hand, Walker is set to be a central figure in how Diebler shapes the Buckeyes’ identity on defense, on the recruiting trail, and in the Big Ten race.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Jamall Walker promoted to Ohio State basketball Associate Head Coach
Reporting by Sunny Verma, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
