Source: Ohio State alumnus Chris Jent interested in head coaching job
Chris Jent, a two-time former Ohio State basketball assistant coach who played for the program from 1988-92, is interested in the head coaching job, The Dispatch has learned. It is not yet known if the interest is reciprocated by incoming athletic director Ross Bjork and Ohio State, which is starting its first coaching search in the name, image and likeness era.
Jent is currently an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he is coaching LeBron James for the second time in his career.
A 1,000-point scorer, Jent averaged a career-high 12.6 points as a senior in 1991-92 as Ohio State earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Michigan in the Elite Eight. He was a career 38.2% 3-point shooter, the 10th-best career shooting mark from the perimeter among Buckeyes with at least 100 makes.
As a junior, Jent was part of the 1990-91 Ohio State team that won its first Big Ten title in 20 years and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1982-83. He went to Ohio State to play for Gary Williams, but when he left after Jent’s freshman season to coach at Maryland Jent stayed with the Buckeyes and finished out his career under Randy Ayers. That connection helped him land his first NBA coaching job years later.
After a 10-year professional career that included time in the NBA, where he earned a championship ring with the 1994 Houston Rockets, Jent was hired by Ayers as an assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003. He has since spent time with six NBA teams, serving as interim coach for the Orlando Magic during the final 18 games of the 2004-05 season.
Amid his time in the NBA, Jent has had two stints on the bench at his alma mater. Jent spent five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers but joined Thad Matta’s staff as an Ohio State assistant coach in 2011, spent two seasons with the Buckeyes and returned to the NBA to become an assistant with the Sacramento Kings.
Jent then returned to Ohio State for the 2016-17 season, where he reunited with Matta for what would be his final season with the Buckeyes. Jent made a detailed, passionate presentation when interviewed by athletic director Gene Smith to succeed Matta. When Smith hired Chris Holtmann, Jent returned to the NBA.
Jent was James’ shooting coach while both were with the Cavaliers, and James spoke highly of Jent in 2016 as he was leading Cleveland to its first NBA championship and Matta was hiring Jent.
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“I think it’s great,” James said that May. “Obviously I know how much (Jent) loves Ohio, how much he loves Ohio State, and I think it’s great for the program to get a basketball mind like that. I’ve got a long history with him and it’s great to see him back in Columbus.”
Although James is not known to have any input in the search, Jent's connection with the NBA legend and Ohio native could make him a more appealing candidate. Ohio State is a Nike school that is partnered with James, who has a locker inside Value City Arena. The facility showcases the unique James shoes the Buckeyes have worn throughout the years. James’ son, Bryce, is a three-star prospect in the 2025 class who has an offer from Ohio State and visited the campus during the fall.
Multiple NBA sources described Jent as a well-respected NBA assistant, with one telling The Dispatch that he would be an "intriguing" candidate.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Chris Jent interested in Ohio State basketball head coaching job
