Things continue to take shape with the Ohio State basketball team this offseason. Head coach Chris Holtmann and staff have been very active in the transfer portal, and now, the guy running the show has announced some staff promotions.
The most notable promotion is the announcement of Jake Diebler to Associate Head Coach as well as the elevation of Mike Netti to assistant coach.
“Jake has a very bright future in this profession and I’m excited about his well-earned promotion,” Holtmann said in a statement. “He has done excellent work for us since coming here from Vanderbilt three years ago. He has a strong work ethic, great player relationships, reinforces our culture and he has recruited exceptionally well.”
Diebler has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach on staff and also served as a video coordinator from 2014-2016. He filled in as the head coach against Northwestern (a 95-87 win) when Holtmann and Ryan Pedon missed time last season with COVID-19.
🏀 @JakeDiebler who has spent the past three seasons as Assistant Coach has been promoted to the role of Associate Head Coach, Chris Holtmann announced Thursday.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/nz32EfqKKQ
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) May 5, 2022
“I’m blessed to be able to continue to serve coach Holtmann and the Ohio State basketball program,” said Diebler in a statement. “This is a great opportunity for me to continue to learn from and grow alongside one of the very best in college basketball. My family and I love Ohio State, the city of Columbus, and are looking forward to working with this year’s team. Exciting things are ahead for the Buckeyes, and I can’t wait to get started with Team 124 this summer!”
As far as Mike Netti goes, he has been on staff with Holtmann for a total of 12 years, including the last five at Ohio State as special assistant to the head coach. The two were first together at Gardner Webb when they were assistant coaches for Rick Scruggs from 2003-06. Netti returned to Gardner Webb as an assistant for Holtmann from 2011-13.
“Mike has earned this promotion with his outstanding work here for the past five seasons as the assistant to the head coach,” said Holtmann. “Mike is a coaching veteran who has been a junior college head coach, a high major assistant as well as working in nearly every aspect of a college basketball staff. Mike has great contacts across the country and is terrific at skill and player development. We are excited about this new role for him.”
Netti also spent time elsewhere before joining Ohio State. He was at St. Francis College as an assistant coach, Lackawanna College as a head coach, and East Carolina as an assistant coach.
“I’m so grateful to Coach Holtmann for his trust in me and honored to have the opportunity in this role on our staff,” said Netti. “He and I have worked closely for almost 20 years, building programs, building relationships, and investing in our players. He has made me a better coach and I’ve benefited from his leadership. I was fortunate to have worked with outstanding coaches and staff in my time here and they have been so instrumental in this process as well. I’m excited and motivated to continue building on this rich tradition and I’m thrilled for the future we have in Columbus”
Two other current staff members have also been elevated into new roles. Kyle Davis will serve as the director of recruiting and branding while Robbie Rucki will take over the video coordinator role.
“These promotions, along with the addition of a director of recruiting and branding in which Kyle Davis will fill, gives us a strong, dynamic and complete staff,” said Holtmann.
Here’s an updated look at Ohio State’s basketball staff after today’s announcements.
Ohio State Men’s Basketball StaffChris Holtmann — Head CoachJake Diebler — Associate Head CoachJack Owens — Assistant CoachMike Netti — Assistant CoachDavid Egelhoff — Director of Basketball OperationsQuadrian Banks — Strength and Conditioning CoachTerence Dials — Director of Professional DevelopmentKyle Davis — Director of Recruiting and BrandingRobbie Rucki — Video CoordinatorJoe Gemma – Graphic DesignerBen Majors — Creative Video ProducerJohn McCausland — Program Assistant
As Ohio State basketball’s schedule begins to unfold, we’ll bring you updates.
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