Ohio State head coach Thad Matta will be looking to fill at least one vacancy on his staff before next season. In case you missed it, multiple outlets reported Friday assistant coach Jeff Boals would be named the new head coach at Stony Brook.
This is the first staff shakeup for Matta in three seasons. The last came when Greg Paulus was promoted from video coordinator to assistant coach prior to the 2013-14 season as he replaced Chris Jent.
The Buckeyes finished 21-14 overall last season and were 11-7 in the Big Ten, but missed the NCAA tournament for the first time in eight years. It seemed likely some staff change was going to occur and it came when Boals opted to take the head coaching job leading Stony Brook. Paulus and Dave Dickerson are the two remaining assistants on Ohio State's staff.
So now, Matta must find a replacement and there won't be any shortage of options. Here are some potential candidates Ohio State could look at to fill Boals' position.
Author's note: Eleven Warriors is strictly speculating here, mentioning some potential replacements for Boals that could make sense based on a number of levels.
Kevin Kuwik — Dayton assistant coach
Kuwik is a name that shouldn't surprise a lot of people. He has been working under Archie Miller at Dayton since April of 2011, but before that he was Ohio State's video coordinator under Matta. The Flyers have been to three-straight NCAA tournaments under Miller, Kuwik and Co. and a move to Ohio State could be the final potential step for Kuwik to land a head coaching gig.
Travis Steele — Xavier assistant coach
Another longtime assistant who could be ready to take the final step to becoming a head coach, Steele has been at Xavier for the last eight seasons. He, like Kuwik, has ties to Ohio State as he spent a year working as a graduate manager. His ties to the Midwest would certainly be big in recruiting.
Billy Donlon — Former Wright State head coach
After a 22-13 season and a run to the Horizon League tournament final, Wright State surprisingly fired Donlon at the end of the season. In six seasons leading the Raiders, Donlon was 108-94. He was the 2013 Horizon League coach of the Year. While Donlon doesn't have any direct ties to Ohio State, he's a former head coach who coached in the state for the last six years.
Alan Major — Former Charlotte head coach/Ohio State assistant coach
Another familiar name amongst Ohio State fans, Major worked under Matta for nine years at both Xavier and Ohio State before taking the head coaching position at Charlotte prior to the 2010 season. Major stepped down after the 2014-15 season, though, after compiling a record of just 67-70.
Jake Diebler — Ohio State video coordinator
Matta could opt to promote his video coordinator to full-time assistant like he did with Paulus three seasons ago. The older brother of former Ohio State player Jon Diebler, Jake Diebler was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Valparaiso, before coming to work at Ohio State.
Update: Diebler will become an assistant coach at Vanderbilt, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Goodman.
New Vandy coach Bryce Drew has hired Jake Diebler as an assistant, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 9, 2016
Aaron Craft, David Lighty, Scoonie Penn, Amir Williams — Former Ohio State players
OK, that last name was a joke. The others aren't likely candidates either, but the potential for Matta to bring back a former Ohio State player is certainly intriguing.
