Comparing Jake Diebler’s first 2 seasons to other Big Ten coaches’ first 2 seasons
How do Diebler’s first two years compare to some of the conference’s great coaches?
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Jake Diebler of the Ohio State Buckeyes reacts during the first half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on February 22, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) | Getty Images Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler is entering the third year of a five-year contract that he signed in March 2024. Originally elevated to interim head coach that February following the firing of former head coach Chris Holtmann, Diebler parlayed a strong finish to the 2023-24 season into his first collegiate head coaching job.
Diebler has spoken openly about the high expectations he has for the program as well as the lofty standards that those before him have set. While the Buckeyes have not necessarily been a nationally relevant program during their first two seasons, there was incremental progress from year one to year two. The Buckeyes went from 17 to 21 wins overall, and improved their record in Big Ten play from 9-11 two seasons ago to 12-8 this past season.
After being listed as one of the first four teams left out of the NCAA Tournament in 2025, Ohio State earned an 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament — its first trip to the big dance since 2022 — this past season, and lost in the first round. However, even Diebler himself will tell you that simply making the NCAA Tournament every year is not a standard that should be celebrated. The Ohio State basketball program is rich in history and has sent numerous players to the NBA.
The Buckeyes have the third-most Big Ten titles to their credit (20) and have been to 11 Final Fours. With that established, the first two years under Diebler haven’t immediately boomed the program back to the level of its heyday, but year-over-year improvement indicates that the program is trending in the right direction. My question today: How have Diebler’s first two years stacked up against all of the other Big Ten coaches’ first two years?