Executive Director Message
The Basketball Coaches Association recently met with the Executive Director of the OHSAA, Doug Ute, to discuss several important topics regarding the state basketball tournament, officiating procedures, tournament structure, and future considerations for high school basketball in Ohio. Much of the discussion centered around feedback gathered through the state tournament survey and ways to continue improving the overall tournament experience for schools, coaches, players, and fans.

It was confirmed that Dayton will continue to serve as the primary site for the state basketball tournament. Due to NCAA tournament setup requirements, the Girls State Tournament can only be conducted Thursday through Saturday, while the Boys State Tournament will continue to run from Thursday evening through Sunday. Discussion also took place regarding the possibility of continuing to us Butler High School for Girls State tournament. Coaches spoke positively about the atmosphere and environment at the facility; however, concerns were raised regarding the perception of the venue not being a college arena.

Additional conversation focused on tournament experiences at Wright State University and University of Dayton. Wright State received feedback concerning ticketing procedures, fan seating locations, and the convenience of concession stands. There is consideration being given to involving local booster clubs to assist with concessions and improve the overall experience. Several coaches indicated that the atmosphere and organization at Wright State currently do not match the experience provided at the University of Dayton. Conversely, feedback regarding the University of Dayton was overwhelmingly positive, with coaches describing the tournament as professionally managed and well organized. The OHSAA also indicated that additional information regarding hotels and restaurant options near Wright State will be distributed, noting that the area offers more accommodations and dining opportunities than many coaches may realize.

The possibility of moving the state tournament to Columbus was also discussed. However, concerns were expressed regarding scheduling conflicts with Ohio State University potentially hosting NCAA women’s tournament games or hockey events. Coaches were also informed that Spectrum continues to provide game film of the state finals approximately three weeks following the conclusion of the tournament.

Regional tournament site assignments and the possibility of utilizing TBA (To Be Announced) regional locations generated significant discussion. OHSAA representatives expressed concerns regarding excessive travel times for participating schools. Several coaches commented that they preferred knowing regional locations in advance and generally did not favor the use of TBA sites.

Officiating procedures were another major topic of discussion. This marked the first year since moving away from the myOHSAA system that coaches were reintroduced into the selection process for tournament officials. Coaches were asked to submit a list of 5 to 15 officials to the OHSAA. Each appearance on a submitted list counts as one point toward consideration for tournament assignments. Official selection is determined through a formula utilizing input from four groups: coaches, athletic directors, league assigners, and official administrators. It was also noted that officials are not permitted to work state finals in consecutive years. Additionally, all state tournament officials must complete a questionnaire that includes disclosure of any conflicts of interest related to potential assignments.

The current state tournament game times are expected to remain unchanged moving forward. Coaches also discussed the need to better educate spectators that one semifinal ticket provides admission for both semifinal games. OHSAA continues to explore the possibility of scheduling all divisions on back-to-back tournament days in the future. Tournament rotation was also reviewed, with Division I remaining permanently as the final game of the tournament schedule while the remaining divisions rotate annually.

Discussion also took place regarding tournament rankings and the use of MaxPreps data. It was stated that the decision to use MaxPreps RPI or MaxPreps Rankings rests with the coaches association.

The topic of implementing a shot clock in Ohio high school basketball was also addressed. At this time, the OHSAA Board is not prepared to make a motion regarding a statewide vote on the shot clock. Coaches were encouraged to communicate directly with athletic directors within their districts to express their opinions on the matter.

Additional discussion centered on the possibility of separating public and private schools for tournament competition, with some indicating that such changes could potentially occur in the future. Coaches were also informed that basketball division assignments are expected to be approved during the June Board of Directors meeting.

Concerns were raised regarding the use of brand-new basketballs during regional tournament competition. In response, OHSAA indicated that coaches may bring a game ball to exchange for the new tournament basketball if desired.

Finally, district-specific concerns were discussed. Representatives from the Northwest District indicated that the pod system used during tournament play was viewed as a positive step forward, although additional discussions regarding alternative tournament options are expected with the Northwest District Board. Representatives from the Southeast District continued to express concerns regarding being the only region in the state utilizing NCAA-style seeding procedures for tournament play.

 Download PDF Version

North-South Game Coaches Announced
Greg Nossaman, Boys North-South Game Director, and Adam Priefer, Girls North-South Game Director, announced the North-South Game Coaches. To be a nominee to coach in the North-South Game, a coach must be an OHSBCA member, must be nominated by a District Director, and coached in the 2025 District Finals.

The Coaches are Aaron Elwer of Delphos St. John’s, Jamie Kachimark of Toledo St. Francis deSales, Dave Brown of Maysville, Greg Ross of Cincinnati Country Day, Jen Ritch of Mogadore, Dennis Lawler of Hudson, Melissa Knapp of Franklin Furnace Green, and Jamar Mosley of Purcell Marian.

Download PDF Version

OHSBCA Announces Hall of Fame Inductees 2026
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is proud to announce the coaches and date for the Hall of Fame Class for 2026. This year, the association is inducting four coaches and one honorary member into the Hall of Fame. The four high school coaches and OHSAA Commissioner being inducted are Dave Close of Stow Munroe Falls, Ed Calo of Westerville South, Jim Rucki of Findlay, Tim Gabbard of Waynesville and honorary member Jerry Snodgrass of Former Commissioner of the OHSAA.

The Induction Ceremony for the Thirty-Sixth Class will be at the Columbus Marriott University Area at 3100 Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 5:30 PM. 

Tickets may be obtained by Calling Hall of Fame Director Paul Wayne at 419-261-2547 or by email at wayno1413@aol.com.
 
Download PDF Version

Paul Walker Award Goes to Jim Rucki
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association is proud to announce that Jim Rucki of Findlay High School is the recipient of the 2026 Paul Walker Award. The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the OHSBCA to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball. The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the longtime coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement, he had the most wins as a boys’ basketball coach in Ohio High School Basketball history.

Jim Rucki retired with an impressive career record of 545 wins and 258 losses over 35 seasons as a varsity head coach in Ohio, leading programs at both Rocky River and Findlay High Schools.

At Rocky River, he posted a 160–71 record, winning 2 league titles, 8 sectional championships, and 2 district titles, while earning Northeast Ohio District Coach of the Year honors three times and the AP Division II State Coach of the Year award in 1998.

Over 25 seasons at Findlay, Rucki compiled a 385–187 record with 8 league titles, 15 sectional championships, and 2 district crowns, earning multiple NW Ohio District and District 8 Coach of the Year honors, along with the OHSBCA Coach of the Year award in 2024.

Rucki has been actively involved with the OHSBCA, serving as District 8 President and District 8 Director, and Vice President of the Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches Association. He helped with local all-star games, Top 100 showcase, and the state clinic.

A respected leader and teacher of the game, Rucki’s lasting impact has been recognized through induction into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. Jim will also be inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame this April.

What they are saying about Jim Rucki

“Jim is widely regarded as one of the most respected coaches in all of Northwest Ohio. Throughout his career, his teams were consistently well-coached, disciplined, and prepared, reflecting his commitment to excellence and attention to detail. A true measure of a great coach is this: when your team is talented, you win big — and when it’s not, you still find ways to win more than expected. Jim exemplified this year after year, maximizing the potential of every group he led. Beyond the court, he has always been a true gentleman and a highly respected colleague who carries himself with unwavering class and integrity.” - Dave Boyce, District 7 Director

“Jim Rucki’s lifelong passion for basketball and his steadfast dedication to the development of student-athletes have made a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. Throughout his extensive coaching career, Jim has been instrumental in guiding young athletes, teaching not only the fundamentals of the game but also the values of discipline, accountability, and teamwork. His influence reaches far beyond the sidelines, as his leadership and commitment have helped strengthen the broader basketball community through years of mentorship, instruction, and service to the sport.” - Adam Hall, OHSBCA Public Relations Director.

Download PDF Version

Executive Director Message
TThe month of December means that Ohio High School Basketball is in full swing as both girls and boys teams begin their journey for the 2025 - 2026 season. I hope that each head coach has taken the time to complete their membership to The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association and have included their staff as members of the association too. All of our awards require five consecutive years of membership as a qualification to receive the award.

This year will be the second year that we will have seven divisions in both girls’ and boys’ basketball.  After evaluating the 2025 state tournament and discussion across the state it was decided that all the Final Four games will be held in the Dayton area with the majority of games being played at Wright State University and the University of Dayton Arena. There is the possibility that one or two divisions could play their semi-finals at an additional location.  As of this date, the OHSAA has not completely finalized those locations. However, it is important to note that all state final games will be played at UD Arena. The girls’ tournament will take place from Thursday, March 12, 2026 thru Saturday, March 14, 2026. The boys’ tournament will take place over four days beginning on Thursday, March 19, 2026 and concluding on Sunday, March 22, 2026. The OHSBCA and the OHSAA will again plan to meet shortly after the conclusion of the state tournaments to evaluate how this year’s format worked.

Max Preps RPI will again be used for the seeding of our tournaments this year. The formula will be the same as last year with the first component being the percentages for RPI: 40% WP (Winning Percentage) - 40% OWP (Opponents Winning Percentage) - 20% OOWP (Opponent’s Opponents Winning Percentage). The second component will be Points of Classification. Division 1 = 2 points; Division 2 = 1.85 points; Division 3 = 1.70 points; Division 4 = 1.55 points; Division 5 = 1.40 points; Division 6 = 1.25 points; and Division 7 = 1.10 points. The third component is based on out-of-state opponents and that is 1.55 points no matter the size of the out-of-state school. There was discussion at our meeting in October about changes to the RPI but our district directors thought it would be best to keep the same formula for this year. Again, we will monitor this system and evaluate it at the end of the season.

The OHSBCA will be hosting the second annual Shot Clock Shootout at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, December 28. There will be 10 games (3 girls’ games and 7 boys’ games) played on these two dates. We also decided to expand the use of the shot clock by allowing events being hosted over Martin Luther King weekend to request permission to use the shot clock. We had three events, Classic in the Country at Berlin Hiland, Battle in the 614 at Ohio Dominican, and The Fort Loramie MLK Classic, completed the application process and were approved to use the shot clock over the weekend of January 17 thru January 19. Members of our OHSBCA Executive Committee will be at each of these events to monitor the success of the shot clock and to get the options on the use of the shot clock from coaches, officials, and school administrators. Our plan will be to gather data from each of these events and then have a formal discussion with the OHSAA at the end of this season.  

I would also like to remind you of all the awards that our association has at the end of each season for both players and coaches. The deadline for almost all of our awards is March 1, 2026. So please, check our future newsletters for this information. I would also like to remind you that our annual Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at the OSU Marriott on Olentangy on Saturday, April 25, 2026. We will be inducting the following: Ed Calo (Westerville South), Dave Close (Stow Munroe Falls), Tim Gabbard (Waynesville), Jim Rucki (Findlay), and Jerry Snodgrass (Honorary Inductee). On Friday night, April 24, 2026 Olentangy Liberty will be the host of our annual North - South All Star games featuring the best senior girls and boys basketball players from across the state. The girls’ game will tip-off at 6:00 pm with the boys’ game starting at 7:45 pm.  

And finally, I would like to wish each of you and your teams the best of luck for the 2025 - 2026 season.  We are all hoping and striving to win league championships and tournament titles; however, it is important to remember the many life lessons that can be learned through the game of basketball.  Things such as the importance of hard work, the idea of bringing energy and effort to each practice and game, and the ability to handle adversity, being a good teammate, and being humble when you win are just some of the life lessons.  On behalf of the OHSBCA, I wish each of you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a productive season.

Download PDF Version

OHSBCA Sponsor Shot Clock Shootout
Once again, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) will sponsor a high school event using the shot clock. This event will take place at the Canton Memorial Field House, featuring ten games over a two-day period. The games will be played on Saturday & Sunday, December 27th-28th, 2025.

The OHSBCA is excited to sponsor the 2025 Shot Clock Shootout. This exclusive event will feature 10 games all utilizing the shot clock under the guidelines of the National Federation of High Schools. Data and information will be gathered from this event to continue discussions surrounding the future implementation of the shot clock in the state of Ohio.”

The games will be played at the historic Canton Memorial Field House in Canton, Ohio. Joe Bogdan, Director of Sports, Athletic Partnerships, Facilities, and Physical Education for the Canton City School District stated, “Canton McKinley High School is excited to partner with the OHSBCA on this event. The OHSBCA’s commitment to running first class events and their willingness to help make this a fan friendly event on pricing really sets them apart from other large scale showcases. Canton Memorial Field House is the best high school basketball venue anywhere. Having the Shot Clock Shootout here is the perfect combination of basketball’s past and future.” 

For more information about the 2025 OHSBCA Shot Clock Shootout, please contact Adam Hall at ohsbcapublicrelations@gmail.com or Joe Bogdan at bogdan_j@ccsdistrict.org.

Saturday, December 27, 2025
12:00 PM - Shelby vs West Branch (Girls)
1:45 PM - Northwest vs Canton McKinley (Girls)
3:30 PM - Olentangy vs Hoover (Boys)
5:15 PM - Elyria vs Massillon (Boys)
7:00 PM - Maysville vs St Vincent St Mary (Boys)

Sunday, December 28, 2025
12:00 PM - Grand Valley vs Rocky River (Boys)
1:45 PM - Olentangy Berlin vs Rocky River (Girls)
3:30 PM - Hamilton Township vs Canton Central (Boys)
5:15 PM - Ursuline vs Tallmadge (Boys)
7:00 PM - Warren Harding vs Canton McKinley (Boys)

MLK Events Using Shot
During the past year, the OHSBCA has worked with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) to expand events to use the Shot Clock. The such events have been been approved the use of the shot clock. These three showcase events taking place over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. The Battle in the 614 (Columbus), the Fort Loramie MLK Classic (Fort Loramie), and the Classic in the Country (Berlin) will each implement the shot clock in accordance with NFHS guidelines.

Classic in the Country Director, Bryce McKey, shared his excitement: “We are incredibly honored and excited to be selected by the OHSBCA as one of the first events in Ohio to use the shot clock. We know college coaches will appreciate seeing a style of play that mirrors the collegiate game as they evaluate future recruits. We also look forward to receiving feedback from players, coaches, and scouts, as we continually strive to enhance the Classic in the Country, now entering its 23rd year. Thank you to the OHSBCA for giving us this opportunity to elevate the stage even further here in Ohio.”

AC Sallee, Battle in the 614 Representative, stated: “Eventive Sports and the Battle Series are proud to present the Shot Clock Shootout, a groundbreaking addition to the Boys Battle in the 614. This marquee event tips off January 17–19, 2026, at Ohio Dominican University. Elite high school teams from across Ohio will showcase their talent under the fast-paced intensity of the shot clock. Driven by the OHSBCA and in partnership with the OHSAA, the Shot Clock Shootout represents the next era of high school basketball in the Buckeye State.”

Fort Loramie Athletic Director, Mitch Westerheide, stated: “The Fort Loramie MLK Classic is proud to stand among the select showcase events in Ohio featuring the shot clock. Over the years, the Classic has grown into one of the state’s premier stages, bringing together outstanding teams, elite players, and supportive communities to celebrate competition, unity, and excellence. This year’s introduction of the shot clock highlights the event’s commitment to innovation and to delivering the very best experience for athletes and fans alike. We extend our gratitude to the OHSAA and OHSBCA for leading this important initiative and exploring how the shot clock can benefit schools of every size across Ohio.”

Public Relations Director for the OHSBCA, Adam Hall, shared his thoughts: “The OHSBCA is proud to partner with the OHSAA in bringing the shot clock to three of Ohio’s premier showcase events over the MLK holiday weekend. These events provide the perfect stage to introduce a faster pace of play that mirrors the collegiate game, while allowing us to gather valuable feedback from players, coaches, and fans. This is an exciting step forward for high school basketball in Ohio, and we look forward to seeing how the shot clock can elevate the game for schools of all sizes.”

Download PDF Version

OHSBCA Coaches Clinic
Welcome everyone to the 2025-26 basketball season. As we begin the start of practice, I want to give you an update on the many topics that the OHSBCA has plans for the coaches of Ohio. To begin, the MaxPrep Rating system will remain the same for this season. The OHSBCA will continue to monitor and make necessary tweaks if needed at the end of the season.

The OHSBCA will again be hosting a Shot Clock Shootout over the Holiday break at the Canton Field House. We have expanded the shot clock to other events held over the Martin Luther King Weekend for organizers who haverequested to use it. We are looking forward feedback and gather data for the OHSAA.

The OHSBCA and 28.5 have combined to host an All-Female Showcase (girls’ teams, women coaches, and women officials at Big Walnut High School on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

The State Tournament will return to the Final Four format and will be hosted in the Dayton Area.  The Girls tournament will be played over a three-day period (March 12 -14) and the Boys tournament will be played over a four-day period (March 19 – 22). All Finals will be played at University of Dayton Arena.  More details will be available once the schedule is finalized.

We will again hold the North-South game at Olentangy Liberty High School on Friday, April 24, 2026 and the Hall of Fame Banquet at the Columbus Marriott OSU on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The Midwest Live Events will again be held at Cedar Point Sports Complex. The Girls event has been pushed back a week later to Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20, 2026. The Boys event will continued to held the same weekend Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2026.

It’s an honor to lead the OHSBCA for the next three years. There are some major changes on the horizon, the Shot Clock and High School NIL is about to reshape basketball in Ohio—but we’ll navigate them together.

I’ve been attending as many district meetings as possible and plan to visit games across the state this season. My goal is to be a leader who’s involved, approachable, and truly represents all of you.

Wishing everyone a great season—it’s one I know I’ll remember!

Download PDF Version

OHSBCA Coaches Clinic
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is pleased to announce that the 2025 OHSBCA Clinic will 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 2025 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 2025 OHSBCA Coaches Clinic!

Download PDF Version

Executive Director Message
Doug Graham and I attended the annual OHSAA meeting with the presidents of each coaching association on Wednesday and then I attended the Board of Directors meeting on Thursday. Here are a few items that might be of interest to you and the members of your district association.

Competitive balance numbers for winter sports were just completed and final numbers will be presented during the May or June Board of Directors meeting. You may want to check with your athletic director to make sure your school’s number is correct.

The 13 summer days of coaching has not changed except that the starting date will be the Monday of the week that May 15 falls on. So this year the start date is Monday, May 12.
All fall sports will start on August 1 except that golf will start the at the beginning of the week that August 1 falls on.

A reminder to know the regulations for individual skill coaching for team sports.
There will be no more rating of officials because Dragon Fly cannot do it. There will be a voting process for coaches similar to what athletic directors are currently doing. There will be four categories to determine state tournament officials:  coaches, athletic directors, local official associations, and stake holders (league assigners, OHSAA officials).

There is now a process where player ejections are reviewed by the OHSAA if video is sent within 48 hours. An example was given where there was a fight between two schools and the OHSAA had the two athletic directors of the schools look at the film and determine who should be suspended and who should not be suspended. There are no appeals for coaches being ejected from games.
Tournament expansion --- the OHSAA explained that the purpose of expansion in sports is to put teams into a tournament that would be of equal representation similar to the league they play in.

As we wrap up the 2024-25 school year, the annual  Boys & Girls North-South All-Star Game were played on Friday, April 25 at Olentangy Liberty  High School. On the next, Saturday, April 26, we inducted the 68th Class in the OHSBCA Hall of Fame. Inducted were Scott Aronhalt (Zanesville). Ray Corbett (Grandview Heights), Tim Tucker (Margaretta), and Paul Wackerly (St. Thomas Aquinas, North Canton Hoover, Massillon Perry, and Glen Oak.

Congratulations to the 14 state champions in Ohio high school basketball. Champions for the Girls were D1 - Pickerington Central (Coach Jonathon Hedgepeth), D2 -  Winton Woods (Coach Carlton Gray), D3 - Purcell Marian (Coach Jamar Mosley), D4 - Bellevue (Coach Kory Santoro), D5 - Portsmouth (Amy Hughes), D6 - Columbus Grove (Coach Brian Schroeder) and D7 - Waterford (Coach Jerry Close). Champions for the Boys were D1 - Olentangy Orange (Anthony Calo), D2 - Westerville North (Coach Shan Trusley), D3 - Louisville (Coach Tom Siegfried), D4 - Maysville (Coach David Brown), D5 - Lutheran East (Coach Sma Liggins), D6 - Monroe Central (Coach Mason Lang) and D7 - Russia (Coach Spencer Cordonnier).

Finally, THANK YOU for all you have done for the game of basketball, the growth and development of your players and the commitment to your schools and communities. Your dedication to our sport does not go unnoticed, and your time and energy spent with our kids is of worth beyond your paycheck. On behalf of the OHSBCA, thanks for all you do for the game of basketball. Have a GREAT Summer!!

Download PDF Version

North-South Game Coaches Announced
Greg Nossaman, Boys North-South Game Director, and Adam Priefer, Girls North-South Game Director, announced the North-South Game Coaches. To be a nominee to coach in the North-South Game, a coach must be an OHSBCA member, must be nominated by a District Director, and coached in the 2024 District Finals.

The Coaches are Joe Mackey of Brunswick, Steve Keller of Margaretta, Joe Schoenfeld of Cincinnati Elder, Josh Shoemaker of Minford, Jeff Miller of Unioto, Amy Hughes of Portsmouth, Danny Gallagher of Magnificat, and Tyler Bates of Strasburg-Franklin.

Download PDF Version