Ohio State Replaced Team Captains With Leadership Council
The program selected five players to guide the team during the 2026-27 basketball season.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Basketball
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Ohio State has moved away from a traditional captaincy model, establishing a five-player leadership council for the 2026-27 season. The group will serve as the primary bridge between the players and the coaching staff.
Why it matters
The head coach opted for this structure to distribute leadership responsibilities across the roster rather than placing the entire burden on one or two individuals. This approach also provides younger players with a greater voice in team operations.
The council consists of five players, including two seniors, one junior, and two sophomores. The selection process utilized teammate feedback gathered during the spring.
The players
Mia Tuman
She is a senior at Ohio State University who was selected to serve on the leadership council.
Hannah Jones
She is a senior at Ohio State University appointed to the new team leadership group.
Bella Humphrey
She is a junior at Ohio State University who previously transferred from Auburn.
Na'vea Gauthier
She is a sophomore at Ohio State University who served as a high school captain three times.
Mia Stahler
She is a sophomore at Ohio State University named to the 2026-27 leadership council.
The details
The leadership council includes Mia Tuman, Hannah Jones, Bella Humphrey, Na'vea Gauthier, and Mia Stahler. The final roster was determined by the head coach, who weighed player input from a spring questionnaire alongside her own evaluations.
Timeline
Players identified teammates for leadership roles in spring 2026.
The leadership council will serve the team throughout the 2026-27 season.
Season Trajectory
This structural change aims to stabilize team dynamics by fostering inclusivity among different class years. By decentralizing authority, the program seeks to build a more resilient leadership core heading into the 2026-27 season.
The transition to a five-player council ensures that the team maintains communication channels across multiple class tiers throughout the season. Observers should track how this collaborative structure influences on-court decision-making compared to previous singular captaincy eras.
The takeaway
Distributing leadership duties allows a program to better leverage the diverse perspectives of both veterans and underclassmen. It encourages players to develop professional communication skills by acting as a direct liaison between their peers and the coaching staff.
Further reading
For more on the latest team developments, visit the Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Lantern.
Live Poll
Is it more effective to have a group of team leaders instead of one captain?
