COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jake Diebler, who was serving as the Ohio State men’s interim head basketball coach, has been named the full-time head coach, the team announced in a press release Sunday. 

Diebler, 37, took over on Feb. 14 after Chris Holtmann was fired. Since then, the Buckeyes have complied a 6-2 record including an impressive win over No. 2 Purdue.

He becomes the 15th head coach in program history. Diebler will receive a five-year contract. 

“Jake Diebler possesses all the characteristics we were seeking as we conducted a very comprehensive and thorough search for a new head coach,” Senior Advisor for Intercollegiate Athletics Ross Bjork said. “Those include coaching ability, passion, energy, program knowledge, character, integrity and ties to Ohio. As an Ohio native, the son of a longtime Ohio high school coach and with deep connections to Ohio State, Jake knows what it takes to lead this program on a championship course.”

Diebler is the first Ohioan to be named Ohio State’s head coach in 35 years.

Diebler’s stellar high school career included three seasons at Fostoria High School and one at Upper Sandusky High School, and he is still the OHSAA career leader in assists and steals. He then played four seasons at Valparaiso from 2006-09 for head coach Homer Drew. Known as one of the hardest workers in the program, Diebler set a Valparaiso Division I record by starting every one of the Crusaders’ 98 games over his final three seasons. He also had a string of 278 consecutive minutes played over seven games in the final half of his senior season.

The Buckeyes are 21-13 overall after losing to Illinois on Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals. It is unlikely they will receive a bid to the NCAA tournament when the bracket is revealed on Sunday.