ROSEMONT, Ill. – The biggest jump in a player’s career is typically between their freshman and sophomore seasons.
Ohio State is hoping for similar growth from its coach. Although Jake Diebler started working his way up through the coaching ranks in 2009, he did not work as a head coach until Ross Bjork hired him as Chris Holtmann’s full-time replacement at the end of the 2024 regular season.
That meant Diebler wasn’t just learning how to be in charge on the fly; he was doing it at the high-major level.
UCLA coach Mick Cronin, whose first head coaching job was at Murray State in 2003-04, said that makes a significant difference.
“It’s a lot easier to do it at that (mid-major) level than at the highest level because of the bright lights,” he said. “I’m sure I said a lot of stupid stuff, but the Paducah Sun didn’t pick it up. Social media wasn’t a thing (then). It’s hard to start at this level.”
Northwestern coach Chris Collins can attest to that. Hired by Northwestern before the 2013-14 season with no prior head coaching experience, his first Big Ten game was at Welsh-Ryan Arena against No. 4 Wisconsin, and as he walked out of the locker room, Collins said he could tell it was going to be a tough night.
“I walked out and 80% of our building was red and we were losing by (nearly) 30 at halftime,” Collins said. “That was probably the most humbling and most down I ever was in terms of going to the locker room at halftime and saying, ‘What have I got myself into?’ ”
The Wildcats trailed 40-14 at the break and took a 76-49 loss. Twenty-seven days later, Northwestern went to the Kohl Center and handed a Wisconsin team that would reach the Final Four a 65-56 defeat.
It was progress, even if Northwestern finished 14-19 overall and 6-12 in the Big Ten. In his third season, the Wildcats took a significant step forward, going 20-12. One season after that, they were in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
The second year was one of growth, even if Northwestern went 15-17 overall with the same conference record as the year before.
“It’s like night and day,” Collins said. “In the first year, there’s so many things put on your plate that you’ve never experienced. Even though Jake and I had been long-time assistants and been under great coaches … you can only get better at that stuff by going through it.”
At Ohio State’s media day Oct. 1, Diebler likened his first year in charge to “getting a doctorate in coaching.” He pointed out the roster challenges the Buckeyes faced and the fact that 11 of their 33 games were decided by two possessions or less. It all added up to finishing one win shy of an at-large NCAA Tournament berth and an offseason of self-evaluation.
“I’m not afraid to stand up here and say I’m a better coach than I was this time last year,” he said. “I also think there’s little things behind the scenes, understanding where my time is best spent over the course of a day, and in my opinion, that’s always going to be with our players. Learning how to delegate was part of the evolution of last season.”
In his official performance review conducted by Bjork, Diebler was judged to have met expectations in year one.
“Coach Diebler continues to provide great leadership and energy for our basketball program while continuing to learn and grow in his role as a head coach,” Bjork wrote. “As Coach continue grows (sic) in his role and adapts to the evolution of college athletics, he will continue to garner all the necessary attributes of being a great head coach and what it takes to compete at this level.”
Collins, now beginning his 13th year coaching the Wildcats, said learning to delegate was one of his hardest early lessons.
“You also get more comfortable in your own skin the more you coach and understanding you don’t have to do it all yourself,” he said. “When you’re a young guy, and it comes from a good place, you want to take everything on because you want to prove that you can do the job.”
There is a level of confidence around the Ohio State program that the Buckeyes are primed to surprise in year two under Diebler. A new offensive game plan is in place, this year’s transfer portal additions were geared more around fit than star power and the coaching staff did not have to be assembled simultaneously alongside the roster.
Plus, there’s that year of experience under Diebler’s belt.
“Looking back on me year one versus how I am now, it’s like two different people,” Collins said. “It all comes from a good place, but he’s going to be so much more prepared – and not that he wasn’t (last year). He did a really good job.”
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What growth can Ohio State coach Jake Diebler show in year two? Big Ten coaches weigh in
Reporting by Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
