Jake Diebler joined the Vanderbilt coaching staff as an assistant coach in April of 2016 after spending three years as the video coordinator for Ohio State basketball and the previous two seasons as an assistant coach on Bryce Drew’s staff at Valparaiso, where he helped Drew and the Crusaders to Horizon League regular season titles in 2012 and 2013.
“Coach Diebler has great experience in basketball well beyond his age,” said Drew. “The son of a coach, he has a passion for the game and in improving others, which our perimeter players will benefit from.”
While at Ohio State, Diebler helped the Buckeyes advance to two NCAA Tournaments and also helped mentor the National Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, Aaron Craft, and the 2nd overall pick in 2015 NBA Draft and 2015 first-team All-American, D’Angelo Russell. In the offseasons in Columbus, Diebler would train Craft, Russell, Evan Turner, Mike Conley, Jared Sullinger, Greg Oden, his brother Jon Diebler, Deshaun Thomas, Byron Mullins, and others in on-the-court workouts.
Prior to his stint with the Buckeyes, Diebler coached at Valparaiso with Bryce Drew, where he was part of a staff which helped lead Valparaiso to 22 wins and the regular-season championship in 2012, the first by Valpo since joining the Horizon League. Diebler also helped the Crusaders to a berth in the 2012 Postseason National Invitational Tournament. In the 2012-13 season, the Crusaders posted a 26-8 overall record, won the Horizon League regular season championship for consecutive years, and a berth in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Diebler served as director of basketball operations during the 2010-11 season, helping the Crusaders to a 23-win season, finishing just one game out of the regular-season title, and a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. As a student assistant in 2009-10, Diebler helped guide the Crusaders to 15 wins and a fourth-place finish in the Horizon League standings.
“I’m blessed to be a part of the rich tradition at Vanderbilt University,” said Diebler. “Coach Drew has established himself as one of the best coaches in the country and I’m looking forward to reuniting with him and being a part of the future of Vanderbilt Basketball.”
Known as one of the Crusaders’ hardest-working players on both ends of the court during his time as a player, Diebler set a Valpo Division I record by starting each and every one of the Crusaders’ 98 games over the final three seasons of his career. He also had a string of 278-consecutive minutes played over seven games in the final half of his senior season, believed to be a Valpo record as well.
Diebler ranked among the Horizon League Top 10 in a trio of categories as a senior, finishing fourth in minutes played (33.8/game), sixth in 3-pointers made (1.8/game) and eighth in steals (1.3/game). He finished his Crusader career 10th in Valpo history with 130 career steals and 16th all-time at Valpo with 229 career assists. He also holds the all-time Ohio high school career records in assists and steals.
Also a standout in the classroom, Diebler earned Academic All-League honors and Horizon League Academic Honor Roll mention during his career, as well as being named to the NABC Honors Court. Diebler graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Valparaiso in May 2009 and with an MBA in 2011. His brother Jon, played for the Buckeyes from 2008-11, and is the Big Ten All-time leader in made threes and the all-time leading scorer in Ohio High School basketball history. Jon was also the 51st pick in 2011 NBA Draft.
Coaching runs in the family for Diebler. His father Keith, coached high school basketball in the state of Ohio for almost 40 years, while his older brother Jeremiah coached high school basketball as well.
The Diebler File
High School: Upper Sandusky (Ohio)
College:
Valparaiso (2005-2009)
Valparaiso (2010-2011
Education: B.A., Marketing, 2009; Masters in Business Administration, 2011
Playing Experience:
2005-09 – Valparaiso
Coaching Experience:
2016-present – Vanderbilt Assistant Coach
2013-2016 (3 years)– Ohio State Video Coordinator
2011-2013 (2 years) – Valparaiso – Assistant Coach
2010-2011 (1 year) – Valparaiso – Director of Operations
2009-2010 (1 year) – Valparaiso – Student Assistant
Hometown: Upper Sandusky, Ohio