PRESIDENT MESSAGE
As basketball season approaches—just 6 weeks away for the girls and 7 for the boys—I find myself reflecting on the four essential steps I take every year to ensure our programs are ready to roll. With over 25 years of coaching experience, I believe these priorities make a real difference:
- Register your staff for the OHSBCA. Don’t overlook your assistant and middle school coaches; enrolling them allows them to earn 100 and 200-win certificates, which are a fantastic way to recognize their hard work and longevity at your banquet.
- Sign yourself and your staff up for your District Coaches Association. Your support is vital for sustaining our district’s all-star games, awards, and scholarships.
- Register for the OHSBCA Coaches Clinic. It is truly one of the best clinics in the nation, featuring incredible national speakers, prizes, and vendors. Beyond the basketball knowledge, it’s an invaluable opportunity to build your network, reconnect with old friends, and meet coaches from across the state.
- Sign up for the golf outing. This has become an annual tradition for my staff; it’s the perfect way to build chemistry and enjoy some much-needed time off the court, away from the demands of administration and parents.
GOLF OUTING
The OHSBCA will be hosting a golf outing on Saturday. September 19, 2026, at the Delaware Golf Club. This golf outing is the day before our annual clinic, and we will have a shotgun start at 1:30 PM. So, plan on bringing your staff down a day early for a round of golf. After the round, a meal will be provided. We will only be accepting the first 32 teams so please make sure to register your team.
OHSBCA COACHES CLINIC
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 OHSBCA Clinic will again be held at the Frank Murphy Convocation Center, located on the campus of St. Charles Preparatory School in Columbus, Ohio. St. Charles is a four-year all-male Catholic college preparatory school founded in 1923.
The Frank Murphy Convocation Center, which opened in 2023, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to enhance both athletic performance and fan experience. It features seating for 1,300, three video boards, and a dropdown scoreboard, making it an ideal venue for the clinic.
The 2026 Clinic will use the Sonesta Columbus Downtown Hotel as the Clinic Headquarters. It has over 400 rooms. In addition, the downtown Arena District is located within walking distance of the Sonesta Hotel, giving clinic attendees ample entertainment opportunities.
This clinic is a great way to get ready for the upcoming season and catch up with friends from around the
state! So, make plans now to attend the 2026 OHSBCA Coaches Clinic!
2026 OHSBCA CLINIC SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
9:00-3:00 PM
Registration
10:00-10:55 AM
Tyler John – Robert Morris University
Men’s Basketball Performance Coach Developing the Complete Athlete: Performance Preparation & Athlete Resilience
11:00-11:55 PM
Roger Powell Jr – Valparaiso University
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Building Culture that Lasts
12:00-12:55 PM
Pat Kelsey – University of Louisville
Head Men’s Basketball Coach the Next Era of Basketball: Why our Players Deserve Better
1:00-1:55 PM
Rob Senderhoff – Kent State University
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
No Easy Possessions: Building a Physical Hall Court Defensive System
2:00-3:15 PM
Matt Fletcher – Concordia University St. Paul
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
The Advantage Offense: Creating Better Shots Through Tempo, Spacing & Triggers
3:20-3:45 PM
Jon Diebler – Butler University
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach
FORM Basketball Presentation
3:50-3:55 PM
2026 State Champion Coaches Ring Ceremony
Presented by Baron Rings
4:00-4:45 PM
Jake Diebler- Ohio State University
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Ohio State Basketball
5:00-6:15 PM
Jerrod Calhoun – University of Cincinnati
Head Men’s Basketball Coach Inside the Cincinnati Bearcats Offense: Building an Intelligent Offense
7:00 PM-10:00 PM
Coaches Social – Moran’s Bar & Grille
Sponsored by KSA Events
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026
8:00-9:30 AM
Registration
9:00-10:15 AM
Mike Jagacki
Founder of Lockdown Defense
From Liability to Lockdown: A Progressive Approach to Defensive Development
10:20-11:15 AM
Easton Bazzoli – Gannon University
Head Men’s Basketball Coach
94 Feet of Pressure: Creating Chaos with a Full Court Defensive System
11:20-12:15 PM
Justin Cooper
Maximize Basketball Player Development Coach
The Player Development Blueprint: Building Skills that Translate to Team Success
12:20-1:15 PM
Maureen Hirt – Denison University
Head Women’s Basketball Coach
The Dribble Drive Off ense: Building the System and Developing the Player
1:20-2:15 PM
Phil Martelli
Former Division 1 Men’s Basketball Coach
Perfecting Your Practices: Intentional Preparation for Game-Day Success
2:15 PM
Door Prize Drawing (Must Be Present to Win)
RULE CHANGES FOR 2026-27
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (May 20, 2026) – Guidelines to help game officials manage the game clock at the end of each quarter and other timing errors are among the major rules changes in high school basketball for the 2026-27 season. The two additions addressing the game clock in Rule 5 (5-9-5 and 5-10-2 Note) were among the five rule changes recommended by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee at its April 27-29 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were reviewed by the NFHS Rules Review Committee and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Rule 5-9-5 (NEW): In the last 59.9 seconds of each quarter or extra period, if play is resumed by a throw-in or an unsuccessful free throw, a minimum of three-tenths (.3) of a second must expire on the game clock when the ball is legally touched by a player inbounds.
Rationale: When play is resumed with a throw-in or unsuccessful free throw, a player may not gain control and attempt a try without at least .3 seconds expiring from the game clock. This change aligns with existing provisions related to tap attempts found in Rule 5-2-5.
NOTE: This rule does not apply when the game clock is not capable of displaying tenths of a second.
Rule 5-10-2 NOTE (NEW): If the referee determines the game clock malfunctioned, was improperly started or stopped, or failed to run, an official’s visible or silent count, or other official information, may be used to correct the timing error.
Rationale: Officials currently utilize visible counts for backcourt violations, closely guarded situations, and three-second violations. This change permits officials to also maintain silent counts that may be used as definite knowledge in correcting timing mistakes under Rule 5-10-1.
Rule 6-4-4g: Deleted language regarding an alternating possession throw-in following a warning for faking being fouled after a released try attempt.
Rationale: The provision is no longer necessary due to the 2025-26 interpretation change modifying procedures for addressing faking being fouled situations.
Rule 8-6-4a thru d: When both teams are assessed technical fouls during the same dead-ball period and before the ball becomes live:
a. All technical fouls are considered to have occurred at approximately the same time for offsetting penalty purposes;
b. All fouls are recorded and penalties identified;
c. If an unequal number of technical fouls are committed, play resumes as though the final single technical foul was the only foul committed; and
d. If penalties cancel for equal technical fouls, play resumes at the point of interruption.
Rationale: This proposal clarifies that all technical fouls occurring during the same dead-ball period are treated as occurring at approximately the same time.
Rule 9-2 PENALTY (Section 2): The ball becomes dead when the violation or technical foul occurs. The location of the violation is the original throw-in spot.
Rationale: Prior to designated throw-in spots, all throw-in violations were administered from the original throw-in location. Language referencing the original throw-in spot was inadvertently removed following implementation of designated throw-in spots. This change restores that language and clarifies administration procedures.
2026-27 Basketball Editorial Changes
1-19, 2-2-1 Exception, 4-1-1 Exception New, 4-6-2, 4.11.2 Situation, 4-22-1 Note New, 4-22-2, 4-22-3, 4-40-3, 4-44-5b, 4-44-5c, 4.44.5 Situation B, 4-44 5c New, 4.44.5 Situation C, 6-3-2, 6-3-4, 6-4-6, 6.4.6 Situation A, 7-5-6c New, 9-2-10 Penalties 1, Technical Foul Penalty Summary
2026-27 Basketball Points of Emphasis
Uniforms – Education-Based Activities
Timing Corrections and Officials’ Counts
Bench Decorum, Sportsmanship and Professional Conduct
Physical Play and Illegal Contact
Traveling, Continuous Motion and Legal Player Movement
Player Equipment – Tooth and Mouth Protectors
Authenticating Mark
NOMINATIONS FOR OHSBCA HALL OF FAME
Any coach can nominate a worthy candidate for the OHSBCA Hall of Fame. From time to time, questions are raised why coach so and so is not in the Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Sometimes it is just a simple fact that the coach has not been nominated for this honor.
Any coach can nominate a candidate for the Hall of Fame. Nomination Forms can be obtained by contacting chairperson Greg Nossaman of Olentangy Liberty or by downloading the form from our OHSBCA web site (oh.nhsbca.org). Complete the requested information and mail to:
Greg Nossaman
Olentangy Liberty High School
Phone: 740-657-4209
Email: greg_nossaman@olsd.us
Let’s Honor “ALL” our great coaches
CENTURY AWARD
OHSBCA members who achieve Century Award status (100-200-300-400-500-600-700 wins) during the season should complete the Century Award Form located on the OHSBCA website (oh.nhsbca.org, click on Forms, then click forms online, and click the Century Award).
- Varsity coaches may count their varsity wins in Ohio only
- Boys and Girls wins may be combined for total wins.
- Junior Varsity, Freshmen, and Junior High coaches may count their wins at any level towards their totals
Questions contact:
Joe Balogh
Awards Director
Phone: 419-512-0164
Email: joe.balogh@ohiobkcoaches.com
DUE SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
BOB ARNZEN AWARD
The Bob Arnzen Award is awarded to coaches who have devoted 20 consecutive years or more service to the same school at any level and must be an active member of the OHSBCA for the past fi ve years. Recipients will receive a plaque at halftime of their respective state tournaments.
If you qualify for the 2026-27 school year, please submit a complete the online application at the OHSBCA website (oh.nhsbca.org and click on forms. Select the Bob Arnzen Award form:
Question contact:
Joe Balogh
Awards Director
Phone: 419-512-0164
Email: joe.balogh@ohiobkcoaches.com
DUE SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
HOOPLINES
This year, there will two editions of HOOPLINES as the OHSBCA starts to move to digital content. The Year in Review / January edition will be released around Mid-January. The Spring / May edition was be released in Mid-May. The OHSBCA has increased the number of Monthly newsletters, like this one, to provide more timely information. The newsletters will be sent to your email address provided on the membership form.