Updated: Feb. 6, 2024
Jeff Boals, a 1995 Ohio University graduate and two-time team captain, was named the head coach of Ohio Men's Basketball prior to the 2019-20 season. Boals has transformed Ohio into one of the best mid-major programs in the country, winning the MAC Tournament in the 2020-21 season and knocking off Virginia, the defending national champions, in the first round.
During the 2022-2023 season, Boals coached Dwight Wilson III to All-MAC and NABC honors and Jaylin Hunter earned All-MAC Honorable Mention. A.J. Brown and Elmore James were named to the All-Freshman Team. Wilson and Ben Roderick were named Academic All-MAC.
2020-21 saw Ohio return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years. Ohio won the MAC Tournament after defeating Buffalo, 84-69. In the NCAA Tournament, the Bobcats took down the defending national champion Virginia Cavaliers, 62-58, inside Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.
Boals coached point guard Jason Preston, who was selected 33rd overall by the Orlando Magic and then acquired by the LA Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft. Preston - Ohio's 20th Bobcat to be drafted - was Ohio's first NBA draft pick since 2003. Preston was named MAC Tournament MVP, First-Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC and was a Lou Henson Award Finalist.
Joining Preston on All-MAC teams were Dwight Wilson III and Ben Vander Plas, who were All-MAC Third Team. Meanwhile, freshman guard Mark Sears (Muscle Shoals, Ala.) was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team, while sophomore guard Lunden McDay (Akron, Ohio) was named to the MAC All-Defensive Team. Also in 2021, Ben Vander Plas was named 2020-21 Academic All-America, Ohio's first since Dave Jamerson in 1990. Vander Plas was joined by Preston, Ben Roderick and Dwight Wilson III on the Academic All-MAC team.
2019-20 saw Ohio go 17-15, with OU winning the first-round MAC Tournament game against Central Michigan before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason Preston was named Second Team All-MAC, Ben Vander Plas was named All-MAC Third Team, while Lunden McDay was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
Boals returned to Athens after spending the previous three seasons (2016-19) as the head coach at Stony Brook. He guided the Seawolves to a 55-41, including a 31-17 mark in America East Conference play. Stony Brook had a 24-8 (12-4 AEC) record in 2018-19 and made its second postseason appearance in three seasons. The Seawolves received an invitation to the College Basketball Invitational Tournament in 2017. Stony Brook placed five student-athletes on the America East’s All-Conference Teams in 2018-19, with sophomore center Jeff Otchere being named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Andrew Garcia being tabbed as Sixth Man of the Year.
A member of Thad Matta's coaching staff from 2009-16, Boals helped guide Ohio State to seven postseason appearances, including six NCAA Tournaments. The Buckeyes, who won or claimed a share of three Big Ten Conference titles, advanced to the Final Four in 2012. Ohio State went 193-62 during Boals' time in Columbus.
Boals was instrumental in bringing some of the top players in the nation to Ohio State, including current NBA stars Jared Sullinger and D’Angelo Russell, along with Aaron Craft, the all-time steals and assist leader in Ohio State history. He also coached the 2010 National Player of the Year, Evan Turner, during his outstanding collegiate career with the Buckeyes.
Prior to Ohio State, Boals spent three seasons at Akron, serving as the team's recruiting coordinator and working with the post players. The Zips advanced to three MAC Tournament championship games, winning the title in 2009 as Akron earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1986. Boals also recruited Anthony "Humpty" Hitchens, a MAC All-Freshman Team performer, and Zeke Marshall, a top-35 national recruit.
Boals spent two seasons (2004-06) at Robert Morris and four years (1999-2003) at Marshall. In his final season at Robert Morris, the Colonials posted their first winning record in 15 seasons. He also spent a total of four seasons at Division II University of Charleston in two different stints.
During his junior season in 1993-94 at Ohio, the Bobcats went 25-8 overall and won the Mid-American Conference regular season championship with a 14-4 mark in league play. The Bobcats capped off a MAC Tournament run with an 89-66 win over archrival Miami in the title game to send Ohio to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years. The Bobcats began Boals’ senior season by winning the 1994 Preseason National Invitation Tournament with victories over Ohio State, No. 14 Virginia, George Washington and New Mexico at Madison Square Garden. Boals was a two-time team captain while garnering four varsity letters under the leadership of his head coach, the late Larry Hunter.
Boals and his wife, Katie, have two children, Sydney and Chase.
