Jake Diebler enters his first season as an assistant coach for the Crusaders and third year overall as a member of the Valparaiso men’s basketball coaching staff after concluding a standout career on the court.

Diebler served as director of basketball operations during the 2010-2011 season, helping the Crusaders to a 23-win season, finishing just one game out of the regular season title, and a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.  As a student assistant in 2009-2010, Diebler helped guide the Crusaders to 15 wins and a fourth-place finish in the Horizon League standings.

Known as one of the Crusaders’ hardest-working players on both ends of the court during his time as a player, Diebler set a Valpo Division I record by starting each and every one of the Crusaders’ 98 games over the final three seasons of his career.  He also had a string of 278 consecutive minutes played over seven games in the final half of his senior season, believed to be a Valpo record as well.

Diebler ranked among the Horizon League top-10 in a trio of categories as a senior, finishing fourth in minutes played (33.8/game), sixth in 3-pointers made (1.8/game) and eighth in steals (1.3/game).  He finished his Crusader career 10^th in Valpo history with 130 career steals and 16th all-time at Valpo with 229 career assists.

Also a standout in the classroom, Diebler earned Academic All-League honors and Horizon League Academic Honor Roll mention during his career, as well as being named to the NABC Honors Court.  Diebler graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Valparaiso in May 2009, and is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.

Diebler, a native of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, resides in Valparaiso.  He and his wife, Tara, formerly a member of the Valpo volleyball team, were married in June of 2009.