Emily Orsini, Managing Editor
Following successful seasons for Denison’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, both teams welcomed new additions to their coaching staffs this offseason.
“Assistant coaches are here to help our head coaches sort of deliver and execute on their vision for the program,” said Matt Tanney, Associate VP and Director of Athletics at Denison. “I think both [Jalen Rhea and Erin Kumler] bring really complimentary skill sets to Coach Sullivan and to Coach Hirt.
“And I know that both Coach (Chris) Sullivan and Coach (Maureen) Hirt during those search processes were very intentional, in terms of thinking about the best fits for the program.”
Jalen Rhea is joining the men’s basketball program as a full-time assistant coach. Prior to working on The Hill, Rhea was a part-time assistant at Gettysburg University, where the organization had two NCAA postseason appearances and posted a 39-18 overall record in the two seasons he coached.
“I have a very strong feeling that the success [I had in Gettysburg] is going to continue. I was part time, so I only got to coach a little bit, and now I get to do it all day long,” said Rhea. “I think that my playing experience, and just my love for coaching young men and helping them, is going to translate over here to Denison.”
Rhea competed at the Division I level at American University during his undergrad, but his roots in central Ohio are strong.
“I grew up playing pickup basketball and [doing] the Denison shootouts in high school,” said Rhea, who graduated from New Albany High School in 2013. “I always grew up playing at Denison, but I never, ever, in a million years, saw myself being a full time assistant here. The stars really just lined up.”
Rhea has strong ambitions for the future of the men’s basketball program, with one resulting in significant hardware for the athletic department.
“In terms of personal goals, my goal is to [help] win a national championship for Denison men’s basketball,” said Rhea.
“And I truly believe that. And I’ll probably believe it before anybody else does.
“And when we do it, we can come back to this interview.”
While Rhea hopes to bring a national title to the men’s program, Denison’s women’s basketball team is already familiar with the feeling.
In March, the Big Red captured its first national championship in program history, setting a high standard for the season ahead as the team integrates new assistant coach Erin Kumler into their program.
As a Columbus native, Kulmer was already familiar with Denison before applying for the position. However, it was the university’s commitment to not just women’s basketball, but all of athletics that stood out to her.
“The dedication to athletics [was important to me]. I think that just speaks to what the university puts into athletics and that they value it. To see that in a liberal arts experience, you want a little bit of everything and that includes athletics. Some places that isn’t always the case,” said Kulmer.
The mantra of the women’s basketball team is “two feet in,” reflecting the commitment of each player and coach to fully invest in the program.
Unlike traditional team philosophies established by coaching staffs, the “two feet in” mentality originated with the players themselves. For Kulmer, that player-driven approach to building team culture was particularly meaningful and something that she applies to the way she coaches.
“What I appreciate is the fact that it came from the players,” said Kumler. “And I think for culture building, it has to be a collaborative thing. So I love that it was something that came from players and then kind of stuck with the team the past few years.
“And then to me, immediately what I thought of [when having two feet in] was being present. So being in the moment, but giving it your all when you’re there and being completely focused on what’s in front of you.”
The “two feet in” mentality helped guide the Big Red through its historic championship season. As Kumler steps into her new role, she hopes to carry that same commitment forward while remaining focused on the present rather than the pressure of replicating last season’s success.
“I think not putting the pressure on myself and keeping [myself] process oriented like we talk to our players so much about [is what will help me],” said Kumler.
“And if I start to feel the pressure, reminding myself to [look at it on a] smaller scale; what I can do right now to help the team, not look too far into the future and understand that so much of this is going to be learning and then adjusting moving forward. But it’s more exciting than daunting.”
Both basketball programs are looking to build on last season’s success as they begin their 2026-27 campaigns.
The men’s team will compete in the Chuck Reiser Tournament in Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 13-14. They play Vassar College the first game and will play in a consolation or championship game the following day.
The women’s team started their season on Nov. 7 with a 63-47 victory against Saint Vincent College, and will play Washington and Jefferson College on Nov. 11.
“Both [Rhea and Kumler] had a pretty good grasp walking in the door of what the environment and the culture is in the athletic program [at Denison] and how our programs operate. In some ways, it feels like they’ve been here for much longer because they’ve just made such a smooth transition,” said Tanney.
“It’s been fun to just watch them get to know our student athletes, get to better understand Denison and better understand the athletic program.”