Jared Sullinger joins Ohio State basketball coaching staff
Ohio State men's basketball head coach Jake Diebler has hired former Buckeye All-American Jared Sullinger as director of player development. The Columbus native, who starred for the Buckeyes from 2010 to 2012, joins the staff after retiring from professional basketball.
Key Takeaways
- Jake Diebler named Jared Sullinger Ohio State's director of player development on Thursday.
- Sullinger is a two-time consensus first-team All-American who led Ohio State to the 2012 Final Four.
- He joins former teammate William Buford on a staff already stocked with Buckeye alums.
- The role is new to last season's staff, while NIL coordinator Nick Kellogg is not returning.
Diebler announced the hire in a program release, praising Sullinger's love for Ohio State, basketball IQ, and experience at the highest levels. For more celebrity and sports staff moves, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Why is Jared Sullinger joining Ohio State's staff?
According to Eleven Warriors, the program confirmed Thursday that Sullinger will serve as director of player development. The Columbus native and Northland High School product said Columbus is home and thanked Diebler for the chance to pour into current players.
"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 the release. He added that Sullinger's leadership should elevate player development for the next generation of Buckeyes.
Sullinger recently announced his retirement from professional basketball and is shifting into coaching full time. He already has staff experience with Carmen's Crew, Ohio State's alumni entry in The Basketball Tournament, including guiding the team to its 2019 TBT title.
What did Jared Sullinger achieve as a Buckeye?
Sullinger played for Ohio State from 2010 to 2012 under Thad Matta and remains one of the program's most decorated modern stars. He earned consensus first-team All-America honors in both seasons, won USBWA National Freshman of the Year in 2011, and was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten pick.
As a freshman he averaged 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, helping Ohio State win Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles and earn a No. 1 NCAA seed. As a sophomore he averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds en route to a Final Four berth.
Over two seasons he totaled 1,281 points and 717 rebounds. Boston selected him No. 21 overall in the 2012 NBA Draft. He played 269 NBA games with the Celtics and Raptors, averaging 10.8 points and 7.5 rebounds, then won CBA International MVP honors in 2024 overseas.
How does this hire fit Jake Diebler's staff plans?
Sullinger is the second former Ohio State player Diebler has brought back this offseason, joining William Buford, hired earlier as a program assistant. Recruiting coordinator Terence Dials, another former Buckeye big, remains on staff.
Eleven Warriors reported the director of player development post was not on last season's staff chart. Nick Kellogg, previously the NIL and community relations coordinator, will not return after four seasons, per that outlet and Yahoo Sports coverage of the Dispatch report.
With Sullinger and Buford on board, Diebler is stacking institutional knowledge as Ohio State looks to build on last season's NCAA Tournament return and climb in the Big Ten.