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    • Katie Smith and Jacy Sheldon return to Ohio State basketball: What we know
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    Katie Smith and Jacy Sheldon return to Ohio State basketball: What we know

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    For former Buckeyes Katie Smith and Jacy Sheldon, it was the right time to return to their alma mater as part of the Ohio State women’s basketball staff.

    “The timing is not yours,” Smith said. “When it comes to coaching, you just do your job and try to do the best you can, and if opportunities arise then it might be a good fit.”

    On Monday, Ohio State announced that Smith would join the Buckeyes coaching staff as an assistant under Kevin McGuff.

    Smith, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, won two ABL and two WNBA championships as a player. She earned WNBA All-Star honors seven times and was the WNBA Finals MVP in 2008. As a member of the United States Women’s National Team, Smith earned gold at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics. She has ten years of WNBA coaching experience and was head coach at the New York Liberty for two seasons.

    More about Katie Smith: Bailey Johnson: Katie Smith is having a blast coaching the high school in her first season

    Sheldon returns to Ohio State less than a year after playing her final season with the Buckeyes. Sheldon’s role as director of player development was described by coach Kevin McGuff as an “evolving” role, but he said he will rely on Sheldon’s experience in his system and her first year as a player in the WNBA.

    “That role in player development is special,” Sheldon said. “Just because I know what we do and have been doing it here for five years, I think I have a little bit of an advantage there. But I’m just excited to help them develop on the floor and off the floor as well.”

    Here are four other things we know about Ohio State’s hiring of Sheldon and Smith after they spoke to reporters on Monday.

    Jacy Sheldon had other WNBA plans this offseason before deciding to return to Ohio State

    Sheldon originally planned to spend the offseason after her WNBA rookie year with the Dallas Wings in another professional league. On July 17, Sheldon signed a contract with the Australian Townsville Fire.

    During the final two months of the regular season, Sheldon discovered she was playing with a left lower leg injury that was continuing to worsen. The injury led Sheldon to choose to stay in the United States to recuperate.

    With her family living in Dublin, Sheldon knew she would be back near Ohio State’s campus.

    “When I found out, I contacted McGuff,” Sheldon said. “I wanted to try to be a part of this group, honestly in any way I could, whether it was on staff or not, so I’m very grateful for the opportunity they gave me.”

    As Sheldon takes on this new role, she has also been able to work with the Buckeyes’ training staff to help her recovery ahead of her second season in the league.

    play

    Sheldon changes plans this offseason and joins the Ohio State coaching staff

    Former Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon rejoins the Buckeyes women’s basketball team as director of player development after an injury derailed her WNBA offseason

    Does Katie Smith plan to return to the WNBA after leaving for the first time since 1999?

    Smith made a “personal decision” to leave the Minnesota Lynx, a team with whom she reached the WNBA Finals this year as an assistant. This marks the first time Smith has not affiliated with, played or coached a WNBA team since the league’s inaugural season in 1999.

    Both Smith and McGuff said the two casually discussed Smith joining the staff over the years. It was the departure of former Ohio State assistant Wesley Brooks that finally opened up a spot.

    Even though there were five head coaching jobs up for grabs in the WNBA, and Smith had the experience to qualify for those spots, she wanted to be in Columbus. She maintained a home in central Ohio throughout her WNBA career. And the Logan resident got married last year, has two children (one is in seventh grade and the other is a freshman at OSU) and said she wanted to spend time with her aging parents.

    “Life goes in different directions and things happen,” Smith said. “I’m very good, I’m very comfortable where I’m at at this time in my life. Yeah, there’s opportunities and all that, but just work, balance in life has just been a big thing.”

    Where will Katie Smith make the biggest impact?

    While Smith will likely leave a mark on the entire team given her experience, her immediate focus will be on working with the OSU frontcourt.

    “Just where we are right now, I thought she could add some things to our program that could really have a very positive impact,” McGuff said. “But I think if she can really make an impact on our post players, and they can have a great year, it will have a huge effect on our season.”

    Recovery was a focus early in 2024-25, as the majority of the Buckeyes’ losses last season were due to a lack of rebounding.

    When did Katie Smith and Jacy Sheldon officially join the Ohio State staff?

    According to McGuff, he would have preferred to have Sheldon and Smith on the bench for the Buckeyes’ season opener on Nov. 5 against Cleveland State.

    “We tried to get them both on board for the first game, but we just couldn’t quite get the paperwork done,” McGuff said. “So probably the day after the first game, I think we technically got it done.”

    Both may have missed Ohio State’s 104-69 win, but Smith and Sheldon are expected to be on the bench starting with the game against Charlotte on Nov. 12 at Value City Arena.

    [email protected]

    @brimackay15

    This story has been updated to add new information.

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