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Ross Bjork on hiring Jake Dieber as the Ohio State Basketball Coach: "A no-brainer”

Ohio State's Athletic Director thinks the decision to hire Jake Diebler as the head coach of the Buckeye basketball team was an easy decision for him.

By Jacob Rhymer

Jul 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jake Diebler yells to his players during a summer workout in the practice gym at the Schottenstein Center.
Jul 9, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Jake Diebler yells to his players during a summer workout in the practice gym at the Schottenstein Center. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Each day we get closer to the start of Jake Diebler’s first official season as head coach of the Ohio State basketball team. With the start of the college basketball season looming, Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork boosted some confidence in the new head coach ahead of the season. 

Bjork made an appearance on The Buckeye Show on 97.1 The Fan last night with Timmy Hall and former Ohio State wide receiver DeVier Posey, and he told them his decision to hire Jake Diebler to be the next head coach of the Ohio State basketball team was a no-brainer.

"We talked to some big-time coaches and coaches that were pounding on our door saying ‘I want that job’. Every time I turned around and I’d see Jake (Diebler), and I’d see him in action. I’d talk to him. I’d hear his plan again… it was a no-brainer. Why would we not hire this guy who knows the place, Ohio roots, can recruit his butt off, clearly understands modern basketball, has the energy… Look I don’t know how many games we’re going to win. Who knows what’s going to happen? But, I can guarantee you this: we’re going to be in the hunt, we’re going to be in the conversation, people are going to gravitate towards Jake and our team. We got great guys on our team, and we’re going to let it play out and it’s going to be a lot of fun."

- Ross Bjork, Ohio State Athletic Director

You could see it last year when Diebler stepped in as acting head coach in mid-February that a change was made in the style of play the Buckeyes were playing with. They were playing faster, and more solid on defense as well. He picked up that win over Purdue in his first game as head coach, and after that rolled off five wins in a seven-game stretch to earn a birth in the NIT.

Now with a full offseason under Jake Diebler's belt, it allowed him to build a team that fits the style he wants Ohio State to be at, and Bjork thinks Diebler has done exactly that. The Buckeyes will have experience in the backcourt that can play in a fast-paced offense which will be beneficial for a postseason run.

The Ohio State basketball team has missed the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons. Bjork has the confidence that Diebler can get the Buckeyes back in the national spotlight again where they belong.

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We get our first piece of Buckeye Hoops in action this Friday night at Cincinnati in a Charity Exhibition game put on by CareSource to benefit mental health. The game won't be televised but can be found on 97.1 The Fan with a 7:00 pm tip-off.

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