Nick Dials is in his second year as an assistant coach for the Rockets’ men’s basketball program.
In his first season with UT’s program, Dials helped the Rockets notch their second-straight 20-win campaign.
Toledo ranked first in the Mid-American Conference in league play in field-goal percentage (47.7), rebounding margin (+4.4), defensive rebounds (26.1/game) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (30.0). In addition, four Rockets — Julius Brown (first-team), Justin Drummond (third-team), J.D. Weatherspoon (third-team) and Nathan Boothe (honorable-mention) — were named to the MAC all-league squad.
Dials came to Toledo last summer after spending two years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division II member Rogers State University. During his time in Claremore, OK, Dials helped the Hillcats compile a 37-22 ledger as a member of the Heartland Conference.
As an assistant coach, Dials was responsible for all on- and off-campus recruiting, breaking down practice and game film for individual/team improvements, developing individual workout programs for players, assisting in scouting of all opponents and video operations, fundraising, organizing team travel and meals, managing all budgets and monitoring players’ academic progress.
Prior to working at Rogers State, Dials spent one season as the assistant director of operations at Akron in 2011-12, helping the Zips secure a conference regular-season championship and a berth in the NIT.
Dials began his collegiate playing career at Ohio State, starting nine games during his freshman season. He then transferred to Akron and went on to score 1,087 career points and currently ranks sixth in school history in assists (326). He served as a team captain his senior season and earned All-MAC recognition.
Dials went on to play professionally overseas with Ehingen Steeples in Ehingen, Germany and paced the team in scoring, assists and efficiency rating. During his time in Germany, Dials served as head coach of the Ehingen Steeples youth team.
In 2009, Dials entered the collegiate coaching profession as head assistant coach at Alderson-Broaddus College in Phillippi, WV. During his time, the Battlers compiled a 24-7 record and earned a seventh seed in the Atlantic Region of the 2010 NCAA Division II Tournament.
Dials accepted the position of director of operations at Miami (Ohio) in 2010, the same season the RedHawks finished second in the league and reached the Collegiate Basketball Invitational (CBI) postseason tournament.
As a prep player, Dials became only the second player in Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) history with 2,000 points and 500 assists. He was a 2003 McDonald’s All-American nominee, MVP of the 2003 Ohio/Kentucky All-Star game and 2003 MVP of the Ohio North/South All-Star contest. He was also named OHSAA Division II Player of the Year in 2003.
A native of Willard, OH, Dials earned his bachelor’s degree in business organization from Akron in 2008.
Dials and his wife Kathryn have a son Dominick (6) and a daughter Audrey (4).
