Jake Diebler

Diebler was born in and grew up in the town of Gibsonburg, Ohio. He went to Fostoria High School for his first three years of high school and played basketball under his father, Keith Diebler. He started playing with his younger brother Jon Diebler starting during his junior year. Before Jake's senior year of high school, Keith Diebler accepted the head coaching position at Upper Sandusky High School , so Jake and Jon went with Keith to play basketball at Upper Sandusky.[4] During his high school career, he accumulated many accolades, including District player of the year in 2003, 2004, and 2005, second team All-State in 2003 and 2004, and the Ohio Division II co-player of the year in 2005, his senior season. He also led Upper Sandusky to win the State Championship and averaged 18.8 points in 2005.[5]

After his senior year, he committed to Valparaiso to play basketball under coach Homer Drew. He played sparingly during his freshman season, only playing 18 games off the bench and averaging only 4.3 minutes per game and 1.1 points per game.[6]His role increased dramatically during his sophomore year, when he started all 31 games for Valparaiso and averaged 32 minutes per game and 5.4 points per game.[6] During his junior season, the team finished 22–14 and went to the 2008 College Basketball Invitational and advanced to the second round with the help of Diebler. Diebler started all 36 games, averaged 30.9 minutes per game and 7.5 points per game.[6]During the offseason, he traveled to West Africa with Athletes in Action.[7] He had his most productive season as a senior, starting every game for the third season in a row and averaging 33.8 minutes per game and 7.5 points per game.[6]

During his childhood, Diebler did not want to become a coach like his father, saying that he “tried to deny being a coach probably because I saw my dad as a coach.”[8] He decided to become a coach after his junior season, citing the impact that other coaches around him have had throughout his life: "I knew then, it just kind of hit me and I was encouraged there by the staff when I played," he said. "I had these huge aspirations to own my own business. That was where I felt like I wanted to be, but I had a heart change and here I am.”[8]“At the end of the day, the most influential people in my life has always been coaches. That goes back to my dad, Homer Drew, Bryce Drew, Thad Matta. These people have had a profound impact on my life. I want to have that same impact on players. That's why I coach. That's my motivation for coaching. My life has been changed by coaches; I want to have the same impact on guys. I've been fortunate to have had access to that so far in my life."[8]

Diebler's father, Keith, and his older brother, Jeremiah, are both high school basketball coaches in Ohio.[19] Diebler and his wife, Jordyn, have two daughters, Jaymes and Jessa.[19]