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Former Stony Brook head coach Jeff Boals was formally introduced as Ohio University’s new head coach in a press conference in Athens, Ohio, on Monday morning. He replaces the outgoing Saul Phillips after a five-year campaign which saw him go for 81-77 overall (40-50 in the MAC.)
Prior to his arrival in Athens, Boals, a native of Magnolia, Ohio, coached the Stony Brook to a 55-41 overall record from 2016 to this past season, including a 31-17 record in the American East Conference. He previously worked on Thad Matta’s Ohio State staff from 2009 to 2016, and was primarily involved in the recruiment of athletes, including D’Angelo Russell, Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft, as well as working with frontcourt players and defensive gameplanning.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored to return home to my alma mater as the head men’s basketball at Ohio University,” Boal said via press release. “My family and I are thrilled to see my coaching career come full circle with this opportunity. Sincere thanks to [Ohio University President] Dr. [M. Duane] Nellis and to [atheltic director] Jim Schaus for their confidence in me to lead the young men of Ohio both on and off the court.”
Boal’s most recent season at Stony Brook saw the Seawolves go 24-8 with a 12-4 conference mark, with the university accepting a CBI bid after getting upset in the American East Championship Tournament by seven-seed Binghampton.
Boals, a four-year letterwinner at Ohio as a player, resigned his post to accept the position at his alma mater. Boals was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain as a rotation piece for the Bobcats, averaging 5.6 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 2.1 assists per game in 93 games played, per Sports Reference. He was rostered for the Bobcats’ 1994 NCAA Tournament and the 1995 NIT runs.
Ohio will be responsible for the $50,000 buyout and will receive a contract “comparable” to what Phillips had as head coach, per Jason Arkley of the Athens Messenger.