Denison University men’s basketball welcomes Jalen Rhea to its 2026-27 coaching staff.
Rhea joins the staff after two seasons as the assistant coach at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Penn. During his time there, he helped the Bullets earn the 2026 regular-season Centennial Conference Championship and the 2026 Centennial Conference Tournament Championship. The team made the first round of the NCAA tournament in both 2025 and 2026, and in 2026, the Bullets were named the Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year after going 18-10 overall and 11-2 in conference play.
“We are really excited to welcome Jalen to our coaching staff,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Sullivan. “From the beginning of the hiring process, it was clear that he has a passion for developing young people and helping players reach their full potential. Jalen brings a great combination of playing experience at American University, coaching experience at Gettysburg, and a strong background in player development through the individual training business he built here in the Columbus area.”
Prior to coaching at Gettysburg, Rhea, a native of New Albany, Ohio, graduated from American University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a minor in marketing. While at American, he was a four-year varsity letter winner with the men’s basketball team. As a member of the 2013-14 American University squad, he and his team won the Patriot League Championship, which led to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2014, where the Eagles were seeded 15th and faced 2nd seed Wisconsin.
Sullivan also emphasized, “Just as importantly, he understands the balance between academics and athletics that makes Denison and our basketball program so special. We believe he will be a great fit for our program, our campus community, and our student-athletes, and we’re excited to get him started.”
