A new report shows that despite Wednesday's disappointing loss to rival Iowa at home, Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler is in no danger of being fired after this season.
Former associate head coach Jake Diebler has done a solid job during his two and a half seasons leading the Buckeyes. He was thrust into the lead role during the 2023–24 season after his predecessor Chris Holtmann was fired. However, he led Ohio State basketball to eight wins and the final 11 and created new hope.
Last season, a first-time head coach was given considerable leeway to learn on the job and oversee a good 17-15 team in 2024-25. However, this meant that he would not play in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. Heading into this season, there were more expectations that Deibler could end that streak and get the program back into the tournament and, hopefully, win a game or two.
Unfortunately, over the past month, Ohio State has struggled. The Buckeyes are 4-6 since a loss to Michigan on Jan. 23. The latest blow came on Wednesday when OSU was defeated by Iowa on its home court by a score of 74-57. The loss dropped their record to 17–11 and put them in a position where they would have to win their final three games to have any chance of reaching the tournament.
Jake Diebler's job at Ohio State is safe
The loss also reignited speculation that perhaps Deibler isn't the guy to end his streak coming out of March Madness, and perhaps that could change in the spring. Well, according to Adam Jarry, the coach is in no danger of losing his job at the moment.
During an appearance on 97.1 The Fan t-bone and tyvisThe Columbus Dispatch OSU reporter claimed that basketball decision makers "understand the resources available and understand the playbook the program has been given to work with." And they know they haven't given Diebler enough opportunities to be competitive.
"There's frustration there. Everyone would like things to get better, but if you get my drift, I don't get the sense that this is setting up something big," Jardi said.
