Ohio State is leaning into its own history as it keeps building Jake Diebler’s first staff.
The latest move brings Jared Sullinger back to Columbus, with Diebler announcing Thursday that the former Buckeye All-American has been hired as Director of Player Development. It’s another familiar face for the program, and another sign that Diebler wants his support staff filled with people who already know what it means to wear the scarlet and gray.
Sullinger is now the second former Ohio State player Diebler has added this year. William Buford was hired earlier this offseason as a program assistant and is getting ready for his first season on staff.
“Jared's love for Ohio State and his passion for helping young players grow make him a tremendous addition to our program,” Diebler said in a release announcing the Sullinger hire. “Combine that with his basketball IQ and experience playing at the highest levels, I believe he's going to elevate our development to even greater heights. Our players will benefit from his leadership and commitment to developing the next generation of Buckeyes.”
A Columbus native and Northland High School product, Sullinger left a massive mark during his two seasons at Ohio State from 2010 to 12. He was a consensus first-team All-American both years, won USBWA National Freshman of the Year honors in 2011 and was twice named first-team All-Big Ten.
His freshman season was a runaway success. Sullinger averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while helping push the Buckeyes to a Big Ten regular-season championship, a Big Ten Tournament title and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. He also picked up Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Most Outstanding Player honors in the 2011 Big Ten Tournament.
He was just as productive the next year, putting up 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in 2011-12 and helping Ohio State reach the Final Four. Over his two seasons, he finished with 1,281 points and 717 rebounds.
Sullinger then entered the 2012 NBA Draft after his sophomore year and went No. 21 overall to the Boston Celtics. He spent four seasons in Boston, later played with the Toronto Raptors in 2016-17, and appeared in 269 NBA games with averages of 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds. His career continued overseas with stops in China, South Korea and Puerto Rico, and in 2024 he won CBA International MVP honors while also earning two Chinese Basketball Association rebounding titles.
Before Thursday’s announcement, Sullinger had already said he was retiring from professional basketball, and now he’s moving into coaching.
“Columbus is home, and Ohio State holds a special place in my heart,” Sullinger said in the release. “The tradition here, the culture, and the support from Buckeye Nation shaped me into the player and person I am today. I'm grateful to Coach Diebler for the opportunity to come back and pour into these guys.”
This won’t be his first time working around a team setting, either. Buckeye fans know him from Carmen’s Crew, Ohio State’s alumni team in The Basketball Tournament, where he played and coached in multiple runs and helped guide the group to its only TBT championship in 2019. He was back with Carmen’s Crew as recently as the 2024 tournament, playing alongside Andre and Kaleb Wesson, Kyle Young and Keyshawn Woods.
With Sullinger and Buford now in the fold, Diebler has assembled a staff built around former Ohio State players who understand the program from the inside. It’s a clear push to give a roster coming off last season’s NCAA Tournament run a stronger base as it tries to keep climbing in the Big Ten.
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