COLUMBUS, Ohio — With the Ohio High School Athletic Association boys basketball state championships ahead this weekend, the newest Ohio State Basketball head coach says he owes a lot to his time as a high school player here in Ohio, but also his dad, a long-time basketball coach in Northwest Ohio.

What You Need To Know

• Jake Diebler is the newest Ohio State men's basketball head coach


• Diebler grew up in northwest Ohio and won a state championship with Upper Sandusky in 2005 with his dad as the head coach


• Keith Diebler has coached in Ohio high school basketball for nearly 50 years before retiring after Jake took the OSU job 


• Jake hopes his Ohio roots will help create a relationship with Ohio recruits 

For the newest Ohio State Basketball coach, there is one memory that trumps all.

“My greatest memory in basketball is being on this court winning the state championship with my dad coaching and my brother on the team," Jake Diebler said. "I’ve yet to be able to accomplish or achieve anything that has surpassed that.”

Jake Diebler cuts down the nets after winning the state championship in 2005. (Photo courtesy of Keith Diebler)

Diebler won the 2005 Division II state championship at Upper Sandusky, with his dad Keith as his coach at the time.

“In all the years I’ve coached, he’s the best point guard I’ve ever coached," Keith said.

And that’s saying a lot from a coach who’s been doing it for nearly 50 years between Plymouth, Gibsonburg, Bowling Green, Fostoria, Upper Sandusky and most recently Danbury. It’s safe to say Jake got the coaching bug from his dad, an OHSAA coaching legend.

Keith (left), Jake (left of center) and Jon (right) celebrate after winning the state championship. (Photo courtesy of Keith Diebler)

“My dad’s been so influential in my life," Jake said. "Those of you who have seen him coach can probably see that how I coach is a reflection of how he coached.”

“I hear it from a lot of people that have seen me over the years," Keith said. "He’s better than me, he’s always going to be. But the mannerisms, some of the things, the intensity, yeah there’s similarities, you are up around it.”

While Jake remembers his time at the Schottenstein Center with fondness of the past between winning that state championship or meeting and later proposing to his wife here, his dad says this moment is his favorite yet.

Jake won the state championship at the Schott, a full circle moment now that he is coaching there. (Photo courtesy of Keith Diebler)

“Winning the state and getting there another time with Jon was huge," Keith said. "But this, this tops it. And for me, it makes me feel like I’ve done it this long and kind of like you pass the torch.”

And the torch is officially being passed, just one day after Jake’s introductory press conference as the Buckeyes newest coach, Keith decided to retire as a high school basketball coach, saying he promised himself that if one of his kids got a head coaching job, he would step away. Jake, hopes being an Ohio kid and learning from one of the best will help him in his next stage of his career.

“I wish every kid could experience that, every high school kid," Jake said. "I loved the state tournament. It’s the absolute best. Ohio High School basketball is special. There are great coaches in this state. It’s critical the relationship between our program and this state is really important. We have to continue to raise that because we want guys from this state to be a part of this program.”