The Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball program has experienced great success over the past decade, making the Sweet 16 in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and advancing all the way to the Elite Eight in 2023.
Head coach Kevin McGuff has taken the Buckeyes to the NCAA Tournament seven times in his 11 seasons at the helm, as the program is one of the Big Ten’s most consistent.
While McGuff has been an excellent head coach, the opportunity to take the Buckeyes to their second-ever Final Four has continually eluded him.
Ohio State’s lone Women’s Final Four appearance came in the 1993 season, as the team made it to the national championship game, where they lost 84-82 to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The run and the season of dominance were led by 1993 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Katie Smith, who would spend 14 seasons in the WNBA, winning a pair of championships and being named to seven All-Star teams.
After her playing career ended, Smith spent time as a head and assistant coach in the WNBA.
On Monday, Ohio State announced that Smith would join McGuff’s staff as an assistant coach. Smith returns to the program after spending the past five years as an assistant with the Minnesota Lynx.
Smith wasn’t the only addition to the coaching staff, though, as the school also announced that two-time first-team All-Big Ten point guard Jacy Sheldon would join the staff as the team’s director of player development. Sheldon played for McGuff from 2019-2024 and just finished her rookie season with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. She will be with Ohio State during the WNBA offseason.
“I’m extremely excited to add both Jacy and Katie to the staff. As former Buckeyes they both possess a passion for this program that will be instrumental in helping us continue to compete at the highest level of women’s college basketball. Together they will have a big presence in the community as we proceed with growing our already incredible fan base,” McGuff said.
Ohio State is 1-0 this season after a 104-69 rout of Cleveland State on November 5. They’ll host the Charlotte 49ers on November 12.
