Scarlet Sunrise: Jake Diebler elevated to top assistant role on Buckeyes bench

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Jake Diebler elevated to top assistant role on Buckeyes bench

Ohio State lost its top assistant coach to a head coaching job.

Chris Holtmann and the Buckeyes have found the next top assistant coach for their staff. Turns out they didn’t have to look too far. Jake Diebler will be elevated to the No. 1 assistant spot, taking over for Ryan Pedon, who accepted the head coaching job at Illinois State early in March.

“Jake will be elevated to Ryan’s position,” Holtmann said in a radio interview on 97.1 The Fan. “He will also take the offense over from Ryan, and then we’ll continue to construct the staff here in the coming weeks. There will be decisions on guys we’re bringing in and who we’re hiring. Obviously it’s a position that has garnered a lot of attention because of this place and the success we’ve had.”

Diebler has been on Holtmann’s staff at Ohio State since 2019 after a stint at Vanderbilt. He will take over offensive coaching responsibilities left behind by Pedon. Now the Buckeyes must find a new defensive coach and a third assistant to replace Tony Skinn, who left for an assistant job Maryland.

But the first step of the new coaching staff is complete. Diebler is now in the chair beside Chris Holtmann.

Top 2024 offensive lineman wraps up Buckeyes visit

Ohio State is beginning to build a relationship with one of the top offensive tackles in the 2024 class: in-state star Ben Roebuck.

Roebuck and the Buckeyes connected when he was on a visit this weekend. And things seem to be progressing. Lettermen Row’s Birm has more. Part of it can be found here:

Ohio State won’t rush into an offer for in-state offensive lineman Ben Roebuck and he knows that.

And right now the 6-foot-7, 330-pound 2024 prospect from St. Edward (Lakewood) is totally fine with that. He and the Buckeyes are just really getting started to know one another, a relationship that took a positive step forward on Saturday. Roebuck was one of four Eagles players visiting Ohio State for the Buckeyes practice, making the trip with defensive end Michael Kilbane and classmates Deontae Armstrong and Devontae Armstrong.

The Buckeyes haven’t offered Roebuck but 15 other schools have. That includes Penn State and Michigan. There’s not been any conversation with Ohio State about that topic. These visits, every conversation with the Buckeyes, is about getting to know new offensive line coach Justin Frye. The rest will fall into place when and if it’s supposed to.

READ: Ben Roebuck, Ohio State connect at Buckeyes practice

ICYMI: Buckeyes star forward E.J. Liddell declares for NBA draft

E.J. Liddell made his intentions that his junior year at Ohio State would be his last clear all season.

On Friday, he made the move official. Liddell declared for the NBA draft, ending any speculation that the end of the season provided a window for him to return for his senior season.

Liddell talked about his final game in the Schottenstein Center early in March when he was honored on Senior Day. He was candid about this being his final year with Ohio State for the last few months. It isn’t a surprise. But it will certainly be difficult to replace his 19.4 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game, which made him a third-team All-American and first-team all-Big Ten performer.

He meant everything to the Buckeyes for the last three years.

Now Liddell can work for his ultimate goal, one well beyond college basketball and Ohio State. He is confirming what he said all season, opting to head to the NBA draft. And he is expected to be a first-round pick when the draft happens.

READ: Buckeyes star forward E.J. Liddell declares for NBA draft

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