{"id":1090,"date":"2026-01-26T11:45:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T11:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.luceosports.com\/oh\/?page_id=1090"},"modified":"2026-07-21T05:14:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:14:04","slug":"coaches-association-newsletter-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.luceosports.com\/oh\/blog\/coaches-association-newsletter-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Coaches Association Newsletter January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paul Walker Award Goes to Jim Rucki
The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association is proud to announce that Jim Rucki of Findlay High School is the recipient of the 2026 Paul Walker Award. The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the OHSBCA to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball. The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the longtime coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement, he had the most wins as a boys\u2019 basketball coach in Ohio High School Basketball history.

Jim Rucki retired with an impressive career record of 545 wins and 258 losses over 35 seasons as a varsity head coach in Ohio, leading programs at both Rocky River and Findlay High Schools.

At Rocky River, he posted a 160\u201371 record, winning 2 league titles, 8 sectional championships, and 2 district titles, while earning Northeast Ohio District Coach of the Year honors three times and the AP Division II State Coach of the Year award in 1998.

Over 25 seasons at Findlay, Rucki compiled a 385\u2013187 record with 8 league titles, 15 sectional championships, and 2 district crowns, earning multiple NW Ohio District and District 8 Coach of the Year honors, along with the OHSBCA Coach of the Year award in 2024.

Rucki has been actively involved with the OHSBCA, serving as District 8 President and District 8 Director, and Vice President of the Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches Association. He helped with local all-star games, Top 100 showcase, and the state clinic.

A respected leader and teacher of the game, Rucki\u2019s lasting impact has been recognized through induction into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. Jim will also be inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame this April.

What they are saying about Jim Rucki

\u201cJim is widely regarded as one of the most respected coaches in all of Northwest Ohio. Throughout his career, his teams were consistently well-coached, disciplined, and prepared, reflecting his commitment to excellence and attention to detail. A true measure of a great coach is this: when your team is talented, you win big \u2014 and when it\u2019s not, you still find ways to win more than expected. Jim exemplified this year after year, maximizing the potential of every group he led. Beyond the court, he has always been a true gentleman and a highly respected colleague who carries himself with unwavering class and integrity.\u201d – Dave Boyce, District 7 Director

\u201cJim Rucki\u2019s lifelong passion for basketball and his steadfast dedication to the development of student-athletes have made a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. Throughout his extensive coaching career, Jim has been instrumental in guiding young athletes, teaching not only the fundamentals of the game but also the values of discipline, accountability, and teamwork. His influence reaches far beyond the sidelines, as his leadership and commitment have helped strengthen the broader basketball community through years of mentorship, instruction, and service to the sport.\u201d – Adam Hall, OHSBCA Public Relations Director.

Download PDF Version<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OHSAA Basketball RPI Rankings
For the 2025-26 boys and girls basketball seasons, the Ohio High School Athletic Association will again employee an RPI Ranking for its postseason seeding. This formula \u2013 40% WP (win percentage) x 40% OWP (opponents win percentage) x 20% OOWP (opponents\u2019 opponents win percentage) \u2013 was developed by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association and adopted by the OHSAA.The intent is a more equitable postseason seeding process.

The Girls Tournament Drawing ford Divisions III-VII will be held on Sunday, February 8th at 2:00 pm , the Girls Drawing for Division I-II will be held on Sunday, February 15th at 2:00 pm and the Boys Drawing for Divisions III-VII will be held on Sunday, February 15th at 2:00 pm and the Boys Drawing for Divisions I-II will be held on Sunday, February 22nd at 2:00 pm.. The OHSAA Basketball RPI Rankings is the Official ranking for tournament seeds. The link is on the OHSAA Website (For Girls – https:\/\/www.ohsaa.org\/MaxPreps-RPI\/Gender\/Girls\/Sport\/Basketball and For Boys – https:\/\/www.ohsaa.org\/MaxPreps-RPI\/Gender\/Boys\/Sport\/Basketball).

The deadlines for reporting girls scores are Friday, February 6th at 11:59 p.m. (Divisions III-VII) and Friday, February 13th at 11:59 p.m. (Divisions I-II). Deadlines for entering boys scores are Friday, February 13th at 11:59 p.m. (Divisions III-VII) and Friday, February 20th at 11:59 p.m. (Divisions I-II). Final RPI data for all divisions will be available on the day following the reporting deadline.

Here the classification factor for the seven-division alignment. The point values are as follows:
\u2022 Division I – 2 points
\u2022 Division II – 1.85 points
\u2022 Division III – 1.70 points
\u2022 Division IV – 1.55 points
\u2022 Division V – 1.40 points
\u2022 Division VI – 1.25 points
\u2022 Division VII – 1.10 points
\u2022 Out of State – 1.55 points (less than 2% of all OHSAA Games)

Note that lower division schools have the potential for higher RPIs based on the point system. Classification points are factored in at the WP level and trickle down into OWP and OOWP.

Non-varsity and non-state association-sanctioned schools (i.e. prep schools, Canadian schools, etc.) are not included in the RPI calculation.

The RPI is updated daily on the OHSAA website. Examples of the RPI WP calculation with classification numbers are as follows:

Small School
If you\u2019re a Division VII school – all of your games have 1.1 pt possibility. But if you play up, you might earn more. So, say you play 5 games and you\u2019re a D-VII school. Your five games include 1.1+1.1+1.1+1.1+1.1 = 5.5 total possible points no matter the opponent. Now, say you won 4 of those 5 games, and some were above your class. You receive\u2026 1.25 for beating a DVI, 1.40 for beating DV
1.55 for beating DIV, 1.85 for beating a DII, 0 for losing to whoever. Now you\u2019ve earned 1.25+1.40+1.55+1.85+0 = 6.05 out of 5.5 total points (6.05\/5 = a WP of 1.21 or 121%).

Medium School
If you\u2019re a Division IV school – all of your games have 1.55 pt possibility. If you play up you might earn more. But if you play down you might earn less. So, say you play 5 games and you\u2019re a D-IV school. Your five games include 1.55+1.55+1.55+1.55+1.55 = 7.75 total possible points no matter the opponent. Now, say you won 4 of those 5 games, and some were above and some were below your class. You receive\u2026 1.25 for beating a DVI, 1.40 for beating DV, 1.55 for beating DIV, 1.85 for beating a DII, 0 for losing to whoever. Now you\u2019ve earned 1.25+1.40+1.55+1.85+0 = 6.05 out of 7.75 total points (6.05\/7.75 = a WP of .781 or 78.1%).

Big School
If you\u2019re a Division I school – all of your games have a 2 pt possibility. But if you play down you might earn less. So, say you play 5 games and you\u2019re a D-I school. Your five games include 2+2+2+2+2 = 10 total possible points no matter the opponent. Now, say you won 4
of those 5 games, and some were below your class. You receive\u2026 2 for beating a DI, 2 for beating a DI, 1.70 for beating a DIII, 1.85 for beating a DII, 0 for losing to whoever. Now you\u2019ve earned 2+2+1.70+1.85+0 = 7.55 out of 10 total points (7.55\/10 = a WP of .755 or 75.5%).

To get the OWP and OOWP, please use the following
\u2022 Opponents\u2019 winning percentage (OWP): Average the winning percentages of a team\u2019s opponents. (Note: This is not calculated via the combined record of the opponents, instead by averaging each winning percentage of the opponents.) All games involving the team whose RPI is being calculated are ignored in this process.

\u2022 Opponents\u2019 opponents winning percentage OOWP): The same process as described above, except calculated for the opponents of a team\u2019s opponents. .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ohio 28.5 Classic
<\/strong>The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) is proud to announce the launch of the first-ever 28.5 Ohio Classic, a groundbreaking girls high school basketball showcase set for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Big Walnut High School.

This all-day event features six premier matchups between some of Ohio\u2019s top girls basketball programs, with a historic commitment to female leadership, as all 12 teams are led by female head coaches, and all games will be officiated exclusively by female referees.

2026 Game Schedule \u2013 Big Walnut High School:
10:45 AM \u2013 Worth. Kilbourne vs. Dublin Jerome
12:30 PM \u2013 Fort Loramie vs. Indian Hill
2:15 PM \u2013 Holy Name vs. Medina
4:00 PM \u2013 Hoban vs. Versailles
5:45 PM \u2013 St. Vincent-St. Mary vs. Princeton
7:30 PM \u2013 Copley vs. Big Walnut

\u201cThe 28.5 Ohio Classic is more than just a day of great basketball, it\u2019s a platform for progress, inclusion, and leadership,\u201d said Adam Hall, Public Relations Director for the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association.

Midwest Live Scholastic Event
<\/strong>Once again, the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association will be hosting a Midwest Live Scholastic Event for both the Girls and Boys. These events will be held during the NCAA Division I Recruiting Period in June. The Girls event will be held on June 19 & 20 and the Boys event will be played on June 26-28. The top Girls and Boys players and teams will assemble at Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Ohio to participate in this summer tournament. More information will be coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schedule for OHSAA\u2019S State Basketball Tournament
<\/strong>Having previously announced that it will revert to its \u201ctraditional\u201d state tournament format for boys and girls basketball, the Ohio High School Athletic Association on December 18 confirmed dates and sites for both events this March.

All games will be in the Dayton area, with University of Dayton Arena hosting all finals – seven boys and seven girls – for the sixth consecutive year. Semifinals will be split between UD Arena, Vandalia Butler High School and Wright State University.

The girls tournament will be from March 12 – 14 and the boys will span four days from March 19 – 22. The format change and UD\u2019s lonstanding commitment to hosting the First Four of the NCAA men\u2019s tournament, necessitates the return to a four-day event for boys, meaning several state finals will take place on March 22, a Sunday.

In one notable change, the Division I state final will be at 3:15 p.m. March 22. It typically was an evening game in past years, starting at 8:30 p.m. or later.

The OHSAA gave semifinals and finals their own separate weekends a season ago, the first under tournament expansion to seven division, and the gap between games as well as most girls semifinals and a few boys semifinals being held in high school gymnasiums drew widespread criticism from coaches and fans.

Here is the entire state tournament schedule, split by gender and division.

Girls
<\/strong>Division I
Semifinals: Thursday, March 12 at UD Arena, 6 p.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 14 at UD Arena 8:30 p.m.

Division II
Semifinals: Friday, March 13 at either Vandalia Butler 5 p.m. or Wright State 6 p.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 14 at UD Arena 5:15 p.m.

Division III
Semifinals: Thursday, March 12 at Wright State 11 a.m.
Finals: Friday, March 13 at UD Arena 3:45 p.m.

Division IV
Semifinals: Thursday, March 12 at UD Arena Noon
Finals: Friday, March 13 at UD Arena 12:30 p.m.

Division V
Semifinals: Thursday, March 12 at either Wright State 5 p.m or Vandalia Butler 6 p.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 14 at UD Arena 12:30 p.m.

Division VI
Semifinals: Thursday, March 12 at Wright State 5 p.m.
Finals: Friday, March 13 at UD Arena 7 p.m.

Division VII
Semifinals: Friday, March 13 at Wright State 11 a.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 14 at UD Arena 10:45 a.m.

Boys
Division I
Semifinals: Saturday, March 21 at Wright State, 5:30 p.m.
Finals: Sunday, March 22 at UD Arena 3:15 p.m.

Division II
Semifinals: Saturday, March 21 at Wright State 11 a.m.
Finals: Sunday, March 22 at UD Arena Noon.

Division III
Semifinals: Thursday, March 19 at UD Arena 6 p.m.
Finals: Friday, March 20 at UD Arena 7:30 p.m.

Division IV
Semifinals: Thursday, March 19 at Wright State Noon
Finals: Friday, March 20 at UD Arena 4:15 p.m.

Division V
Semifinals: Friday, March 20 at UD Arena 10:45 a.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 21 at UD Arena 1 p.m.

Division VI
Semifinals: Friday, March 20 at Wright State 6 p.m.
Finals: Saturday, March 21 at UD Arena 7:30 p.m.

Division VII
Semifinals: Friday, March 20 at Wright State Noon
Finals: Saturday, March 21 at UD Arena 4:15 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association (OHSBCA) recently nominated Jim Rucki and Dennis Schrock for the Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award. The Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to the world of high school basketball, particularly in the areas of coaching, mentoring, and leadership. This prestigious award honors the legacy of Coach Morgan Wootten, a legendary high school basketball coach, and his dedication to developing athletes both on and off the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jim<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jim Rucki retired with an impressive career record of 545 wins and 258 losses over 35 seasons as a varsity head coach in Ohio, leading programs at both Rocky River and Findlay High Schools. At Rocky River, he posted a 160\u201371 record, winning 2 league titles, 8 sectional championships, and 2 district titles, while earning NE Ohio District Coach of the Year honors three times and the AP Division II State Coach of the Year award in 1998. Over 25 seasons at Findlay, Rucki compiled a 385\u2013187 record with 8 league titles, 15 sectional championships, and 2 district crowns, earning multiple NW Ohio District and District 8 Coach of the Year honors, along with the OHSBCA Coach of the Year award in 2024. A respected leader and teacher of the game, Rucki\u2019s lasting impact has been recognized through induction into the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. Jim will also be inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dennis<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dennis Schrock retired in 2023 after an exceptional 41-year career as a high school girls basketball coach, serving as head coach at both Jackson High School and Chippewa High School. He finished with an outstanding 723\u2013154 career record. Under his leadership, the Lady Chipps became one of Ohio\u2019s most respected programs, earning four state tournament appearances and finishing as state runners-up twice. Known for his consistency, preparation, and passion for teaching the game, Schrock built teams that reflected toughness, discipline, and unity. Over four decades, he developed a culture of excellence that produced championship-caliber teams and countless student-athletes who thrived under his guidance. A lifelong educator and mentor, Coach Schrock\u2019s impact extends far beyond wins and titles, his legacy is defined by the values he instilled and the lasting influence he left on his players, program, and community. In recognition of his remarkable career, Schrock was inducted into the OHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2024.

The Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award winners will be announced in January. Award winners will be recognized at the McDonald\u2019s All-American Game in late March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future Elections
<\/strong>In 2026, the following positions are to be elected:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Even Number Districts Directors (3-year term)
2. Girls District Directors of Districts 2 & 4, District 5 & 12, Districts 6 & 7, and Districts 15 & 16 (3-year term)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifications for these POSITIONS is that the candidate must be a member of the OHSBCA. Candidates for all these positions must send a letter of intent to the President of the OHSBCA stating the position in which the will be a candidate for by July 1st. Election Procedures can be found on Page 17 of the January 2026 Constitutional Issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OHSBCA Forms
<\/strong>The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association has posted its form on the website (oh.nhsbca.org<\/a>). The website will allow the applicant to upload required documents and require photos.

The available forms are Academic All-Ohio, Academic Teams, Boys Assistant Coach of the Year, Boys Coach of the Year, Boys Player of the Year, Coaches Scholarship, Girls Assistant Coach of the Year, Girls Coach of the Year, Girls Player of the Year, the Top 20 Shooting Awards (2FG, 3FT, FT) – Individual and Team, Scholarship Society, Boys Showcase, Century Award, Bob Arnzen Award, and Hall of Fame Nomination.

To access the forms, go to the OHSBCA website (oh.nhsbca.org<\/a>) and click on the FORMS link in the upper right-hand corner.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About News OHSBCA Partners Awards Coaches of the Year Hall of Fame 2020-2024 2015-2019 2010-2014 2005-2009 2000-2004 1995-1999 1990-1994 1987-1989 Paul Walker Award Players of the Year Scholarship Winners 2025-2029 2020-2024 2015-2019 2010-2014 Events 2025 OHSBCA Golf Outing 2026 Midwest\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hs_fullhtml":"0","hs_head_html":"\n