Posts Tagged ‘Youngstown State University’

Youngstown State University is buzzing about the new staff that Head Coach Eric Wolford (above with AD Ron Strollo) has assembled.  This is no ordinary group of guys just along for the ride, but rather, a group of proven leaders who are united to parlay their experiences into molding a football program which needed stronger direction.  Coach Wolford has built a great staff, top to bottom, which will surely prove worthy by season’s end. 

The neat thing about the new regime is that they have done more community involved projects such as camps which welcome local high school players and coaches.  The local camps open the door for everyone involved.  A player learns what he must do to improve for a shot at the next level.  The visiting coaches learn new methods of teaching things.  The best part about the camps is that YSU is not getting rich conducting them.  Coach Wolford and staff see these sessions as a bond with the community, as well as, a deeper look at the potential recruiting classes of the future.

Everyone knows about Ron Stoops and Rollen Smith.  The Mooney and Ursuline programs have prospered for years under these two great minds.  To get both of them on the same staff is a big score, I don’t care what level it is.  Stoops and Smith are both respected locally and will assist Wolford with the additional local tags. 

Ron Stoops has more than 30 years of coaching experience at the high school level, including the last nine at Cardinal Mooney.  Stoops will coach the defensive secondary and will serve as the first-ever YSU Director of High School Relations.  “Coach Wolford is a great guy with a lot of energy and I am very anxious to work with him,” Stoops said.  “I’ve been very involved in Boardman and at Mooney, but to do it at the college level, and especially at YSU, is really exciting and I am looking forward to it.”

Rollen Smith was at Ursuline for the last 20 years.  In those twenty years, he coached and ran the strength and conditioning program for a school that made the playoffs 13 times in those 20 years.  Smith will serve as an assistant defensive line coach under Wolford at YSU.  Perhaps the most community-oriented coach ever, Smith is involved with the local juvenile center and is on numerous task forces and programs to assist the area.  He is respected because of his demeanor with the youth of Youngstown and I have never heard anyone say anything negative about this guy.  He is a quality addition as the last piece Wolford added to the puzzle.

Shane Montgomery will serve as offensive coordinator and will also coach the quarterbacks.  Montgomery is a former Miami (OH) head football coach.  Coaching in the D-I MAC level for four years is impressive, but to be the head coach for four years is superb.  Montgomery parted ways with Miami in 2008 and spent last season as the offensive coordinator at Akron University.  Coach Montgomery may have the difficult task of learning which quarterback can lead the team without making mental mistakes or turning the ball over, both problems in YSU’s recent past.

Carmen Bricillo has been hired to be the offensive line coach.  Bricillo has a good reputation as an up-and-coming coach who communicates well with student-athletes.  Bricillo spent last season at The University of Illinois as an offensive assistant coach.  In 2007 & 2008, Briciillo coached offensive tackles and tight ends at Akron.  He was a standout offensive lineman at Duquesne University where he graduated in 1996 and earned first team all-conference honors his last two seasons.

Rick Kravitz will serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.  Kravitz looks like the guy you thought you played bocce with for the last five years at the MVR Club.  Truth is, he wasn’t here yet despite looking like a veteran Youngstown resident.  Kravitz has coached at Western Michigan and NC State.  Perhaps his best work took place at South Florida where he helped build a program for bigger things.  While at South Florida, Kravitz served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.  He was also there for the jump from FCS Independent in 2000, to FBS newcomer as the Bulls made the jump in 2001.  To me, he is the biggest snag as an experienced D-I coach for this program.

Arguably, Tom Sims could count as the big piece in the puzzle.  Sims coached at Kansas last season and has spent the last nine years coaching defensive linemen at BCS schools.  Besides Kansas, Sims has gained experience while coaching at Minnesota and Illinois.  “His relationships and rapport with his players is something that I want all of our coaches to have,” claimed Wolford.  Sims played seven NFL seasons in Kansas City, Minnesota and Indianapolis.  His duties at YSU will consist of coaching the defensive line and being an assistant head coach.

Louie Matsakis will serve as special teams coordinator and work with running backs.  Matsakis also comes from Kansas where he coached running backs and coordinated special teams.  Matsakis first met Wolford while he played at Emporia, while Wolford was coaching there.  The biggest contribution, besides big-time experience, that Matsakis brings to the table is his wisdom of special teams.  Anyone who saw YSU’s special teams disasters last season may call Matsakis the big addition to the staff.

Phil Longo will coach wide receivers and serve as YSU’s recruiting coordinator.  Longo spent the last two seasons in the tent of the enemy, Southern Illinois, where he served as offensive coordinator.  He has the reputation of being a tireless recruiter and a very hard worker.  Longo commented, “I am excited about joining one of the most storied FCS programs in college football.”

Andre Coleman will coach tight ends.  “Andre has played at the highest level in the NFL playing and returning a kickoff for a touchdown in the Super Bowl,” Wolford said. “He is someone I have known for a long time and is a person I can rely on to get the job done at all times. He can relate well with our student-athletes and has a lot to teach them.”  Coleman, who graduated from not-so-far-away Hickory High School was a standout in the NFL where he was drafted in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft as the 70th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers.  He also played for Seattle and Pittsburgh.

Pinch yourself Penguins fans.  This is quite a coaching staff that Eric Wolford has brought to Youngstown, perhaps the best in YSU history as far as being well-rounded, community involved, recruiting know-how, experience, and player development.  With the new WATTS Indoor Facility coming very soon, Mr. Strollo has proven with the hirings of Wolford and this staff, a long-term commitment to excellence.

The Youngstown State Softball team is struggling to win games, but the overall product is so much more polished than it used to be. Credit Coach Campbell and his staff for the great work to make this program more respectable than it has been in years.  One of the cogs in the new machine is Haley Thomas. Haley is a Phys Ed Major from Southern California who aspires to teach and coach when her college days come to an end.  As the Penguins head into tournament play this weekend, Thomas will be doing what she has all season, batting leadoff and playing CF for Youngstown State.  Just a Sophomore, Thomas started all 48 regular season games.  In those games, she has racked up eight home runs.  She leads the team in runs (40), total bases (105), walks (23), on-base percentage (.453), and batting average (.376).  I recently caught up with Thomas to discuss her future, getting homesick, and realizing her potential.

Paneech: How many years have you been playing softball?

Thomas: I just finished my tenth year.

Paneech: Have you always been an outfielder?

Thomas: No.  I started playing in the outfield.  I tried catcher and did that for awhile, and then when I got to YSU, I went back to the outfield.  I play some first base also.  I can play all three of those positions.  I have never pitched in my life.  I don’t really know how.

Paneech: What do you credit your big numbers to this season?

Thomas: I wouldn’t be leading the team in total bases and runs unless somebody was batting good behind me.  The team motivates each other to work hard.  Last year, I didn’t have a whole bunch of extra base hits.  I have worked on just trying to hit the ball hard without swinging harder, I use my natural swing.  Same swing every time – see the ball and try to hit it squarely.

Paneech: Do you prefer the 80 degree weather that we are having now, or were you more content when it was 45 degrees?

Thomas: I like the hot weather better for softball.  I grew up in California, so I was used to the hotter weather.

Paneech: Why Physical Education for a major?

Thomas: It is something that I am involved with every day, as well as something I can see myself involved with in the future.  I want to be happy doing something, so if I am not going to be happy there is no use in doing it.  I want to get involved with teaching and coaching.  I am not sure if I would accept a position as a volleyball coach somewhere, I don’t know enough about it.  I did play soccer though, so if I couldn’t coach softball, soccer would be okay.

Paneech: Are you homesick at all?  When will you be heading back West?

Thomas: I do get homesick sometimes.  I am taking a class in the Summer, but I will make my way home in July.

Paneech: Explain this season to me.

Thomas: The team has made a lot of improvement since last season.  We fought hard and played more consistently this year.  Although it may not show on paper, the quality of the team is so much higher than last year.  We don’t always get rewarded in the win column, but mentally we all know that we are striving to make a difference.

One Word Answers

Favorite Breakfast Food: A bagel with peanut butter and jelly.

Biggest Phobia: I don’t know.

Favorite TV Show: Survivor and Grey’s Anatomy.

Sport You Watch Other Than Baseball: Football, I’m a Pittsburgh Steeler fan.

Favorite Movie: Shooter, Band of Brothers.  Any war movies.

Snack You Can’t Stop Eating: Chips.  All kinds, BBQ, Salt and Vinegar.

Worst Habit: Second guessing myself.

Haley and her teammates start Horizon League Tournament play this weekend, where she claims they will “try to win one game at a time, not the whole tournament at once“.  Best of luck Lady Penguins and congratulations on an outstanding effort this season.

Brian Mellott has been awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of The National Football Foundation. Candidates were chosen from 11 colleges which fall into the Northeastern Ohio area, spanning 15 counties.  Last season, Mellott started all eleven games at right guard and was named a First-Team Academic All-American.

In other YSU related news, Donald Jones was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a free agent contract.  Jones has been unavailable for comment, but is surely disappointed that he was not drafted.

Kim Klonowski is enjoying Youngstown State.  She has started all 39 games this season for the Penguins softball team and has more than respectable statistics batting .316 with 5 home runs and a team-high 31 RBI.  She was a Second-Team All-Horizon League pick last year as a sophomore and always poses a threat to smack one out against opposing pitchers.

Refreshingly, Klonowski gets it.  She understands that there may not be a million dollar contract to play softball professionally.  She understands what “student-athlete” means.  She is majoring in chemical engineering and takes her education very seriously.  She also was very good-natured and a tip of the cap to her parents for the great measure of respect she shows both on and off of the diamond.

 

Paneech:  How did you settle on chemical engineering for a major?

Klonowski:  I would like to think I am a good student (laughing).  My sophomore year of high school, my dad sat me down and said “find a major“.  He is an engineer and my uncle is a chemical engineer so I got into it and looked around.  The choice was then chemical or biomedical, and YSU had chemical.  I chose YSU because they had the engineering and they had softball, so it was a really good fit for me.

Paneech:  You lead the team in RBI with 31 and have hit a few bombs this year.  What do you attribute the power to: pitch selectivity, bat speed, or mechanics?

Klonowski:  I pretty much credit bat speed and mechanics.  [Coach Brian] Campbell has done alot with us to make sure we hit inside the ball and drive right through it and that has definitely been the difference.  I am getting comfortable hitting for power, but when you get one out you are lucky.

Paneech:  I came to a couple of games this year and quite frankly, it was freezing.  Do you think that the season should be moved back a month to play in more favorable conditions?

Klonowski:  No, I think you have to learn to play in the elements, no matter what.  When you play a game in the cold, it is a disadvantage to everyone who is playing in it.

Paneech:  Do you follow Major League Baseball?

Klonowski:  Yes, I am a Tigers fan, but Albert Pujols is my favorite player.  My favorite Tiger is Miguel Cabrera.

One Word Answers

Favorite TV Show:  Real Housewives of Orange County.

Fast Food:  Wendy’s.

Biggest Phobia:  I am a germaphobe, big time.

Best Movie Ever Made:  A League of Their Own.

Favorite Soft Drink:  Diet Coke.

Worst Habit:  I am constantly putting on hand sanitizer.

Favorite Cereal:  Cinammon Toast Crunch (every morning).

Musical Preference:  Rock, like Shinedown and Fallout Boy.

Worst Class Ever Taken At YSU:  Organic Chemistry 2.  It was so hard!

Best Class Taken At YSU?  All of my engineering classes are real cool.

Quotable:  “This year’s team has alot of fight.  We can be down a few runs but one person sparks a rally and everyone goes, it is very contagious.  We never give up, and that’s great!”  

Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum proudly unveiled the signing of Josh Chojnacki to a National Letter of Intent.  Chojnacki (pronounced “shuh-NAK-ee”) comes from Erie, PA., where he was a standout for Mercyhurst Prep.  The 6’9″ recruit was named a Class AA First-Team All-Pennsylvania selection last season.

Last season, Chojnacki averaged 21.6 points and 11 rebounds per game and finished his career as the second leading scorer in Mercyhurst Prep history compiling 1,321 points and as the school’s all-time rebounder with 775  in his four letter-winning years. 

“In the Horizon League, when you have a post player that can step out and hit the perimeter jump shot, which Josh does extremely well, and have the ability to score around the basket it makes for a very special player,” Slocum said.

Chojnacki, who joins Kendrick Perry in the 2010-11 recruiting class, carried a 3.9 grade-point average in high school and plans on pursuing a degree in business while attending YSU.

“Youngstown State has been recruiting me since my junior year and I felt a real connection with Coach Slocum and (Assistant) Coach (Michael) Wernicki,” Chojnacki said. “I liked the campus, and it’s close to home so my family can see me play.”

Youngstown State University announced the hiring of Bob Boldon as the new Lady Penguins basketball coach.  Boldon, who grew up in Louisville, Ohio, was a standout point guard for Walsh University.  Coach Boldon has ten years of experience coaching basketball, five at the Division I level.  His most recent venture was in the role of top assistant coach for Division I Florida Gulf Goast University.

Boldon is in a unique situation with the new task he has accepted.  On one hand, there is nowhere to go but up as the Lady Penguins are coming off an 0-30 season and hold the longest losing streak in Division I.  On the other hand, he will have to establish his ways to two other coaches recruits while trying to sign a few student-athletes to attend YSU.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be the next head coach at Youngstown State University,” Boldon said.  “Mr. Strollo has a great vision not only for the future of the women’s basketball program, but the entire athletic department.  I am excited and honored to be a part of it.  I am also thrilled that my family and friends will have an opportunity to share in the excitement of re-establishing a winning tradition for the women’s basketball program at YSU.”

Boldon has coached at Akron, Walsh, Gannon, Wilmington, Lambuth, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello.  His track record would suggest he is a good fit for the current situation of YSU basketball because he seems to go into struggling programs and turn them around for the better.

To sit there and watch World Middleweight Boxing Champion Kelly Pavlik and U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan look over a sheet with defensive schemes and offensive formations was just scary.  Pavlik and Ryan served as honorary coaches for the Red team in Saturday’s Spring Football Game at Stambaugh Stadium.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams (pictured) and State Senator Joe Schiavoni served as the honorary coaches for the White team.  Williams and I shared some good conversation on the elevator.  Amongst the topics were the rust working itself out of his golf game and what a beautiful day we had for the Spring game.

New YSU President Appointee, Dr. Cynthia E. Anderson, was also on the sidelines and having a good time.  I asked her how she could be an honorary coach and not be wearing headphones or instructing players.  Dr. Anderson laughed and replied, “I am much better at cheering and clapping and being happy.  I know nothing, so I am just going to stand here and be happy.  Seriously though, I think this is wonderful.  We have perfect weather and the school spirit is on display here today.  There is going to be alot of excitement here this year and we will have alot of people coming out.”

Former State Senator Harry Meshel was on hand to show his support for the program.  “The crowd is exhillerated.  Wolf brings alot to the coaching situation, you can see it in the ballplayers, even the ones who are a little shorter.  The guy [Wolford] has so much spirit, and we just have to keep making this game bigger every time we do it.”

At one point in the second half when the Red scored a touchdown, someone from Team Pavlik shouted out, “Nice call Kelly!”  Pavlik turned back with a keen smirk nodding his head saying, “Yeah, it was nice, wasn’t it.” 

A couple of moments later the chants of ‘Kelly-Kelly-Kelly’ started in the lower bleachers to which Pavlik turned, smiled, and tipped his cap to the fans.  The only other chant even close was a ‘Wolford-Wolford-Wolford’ chant that went up in the first half.

New YSU Coach Eric Wolford advised all to circle the annual Red-White Spring game on their calenders.  He promised at halftime of the home basketball game against Butler that there would be tailgating for the first time ever as a way to hype things up and a way for the community to enjoy fellowship and networking.  Wolford had to be happy with the upgrade from Spring games past as the Red got by the White, 48-20, in front of well over 2,000 fans.

The way the game was set up, the Red team were the “ones“, or first teamers.  The White team were the “twos“, or second teamers.  According to Wolford, no one was guaranteed anything, so with a strong showing against the Red team, any member of the White team could be promoted to starter status.

The two big questions coming into the game remained unanswered.  Marc Kanetsky and Kurt Hess (above) both had good showings at QB as they alternated series with both offenses.  Kanetsky finished the day 20-32 for 213 yards and a TD, he also ran one in from two yards out.  Hess was 26-33 for 350 yards and 3 TD.  Statistically, the edge goes to Hess, but Kanetsky did a better job leading drives that resulted in scores.  Hess was critical of himself afterwards.  “There were some reads that I made not as fast as I would have liked to, but getting the ball to the receivers we have so they can do the things they do worked out well for me today.”

The other unanswered question was will the special teams be a drawback as they were last year?  There were two field goals attempted, one by starter Stephen Blose, that were missed.  Blose also missed an extra point attempt while succeeding six times.  There were a couple of mishandled punts that rolled around on the turf.  The blocking on punts was not full contact, so that was an untested commodity.  Special Teams will win or lose a team games and Wolford knows how important they become when in a close one.

The factors that were expected to click did not disappoint.  Dominique Barnes caught 10 passes for 174 yards and two TDs.  Both of Barnes’ touchdowns (27 and 35 yards) came from Hess passes.  Jelani Berassa stepped it up catching 8 balls for 107 yards and a touchdown. 

In the rushing department, Torrian Pace (above, being served water by injured Torrance Nicholson) ran hard and got 13 carries for 109 yards and a pair of scores.  Jamaine Cook (pictured below) got 14 touches for 48 yards.  Dan Banna, the younger brother of Red team FB Kyle Banna, had 10 carries for 93 yards to lead the White team.  Dan Banna commented on what it was like to play against a team his brother was on fo the first time ever.  “We are always competing, but usually on the same side.  Today you got to see which Banna was better,” remarked the younger Dan as brother Kyle laughed.

Pace praised the offensive line and gave his thoughts on what will happen at quarterback.  “The O-line did a great job and it all works because of them.  Both of the quarterbacks played well and it is in the coaches hands.  I have faith in both of them and trust whoever I am lined up behind on the field.  I think they can both play”

After the game, Coach Wolford commented on the positives.  “I’m excited by the great turnout today.  I was happy with things I saw on both sides of the ball and you really have to credit the White for playing very competitively.  We are now entering the most important phase of the year, our Summer program.  As coaches, you cannot monitor the players but it is a time when you can make the biggest gains or losses and we need to make alot of gains.”

A man of his word, Wolford and members his staff went through the tailgate lot visiting the fans who came out in celebration of YSU Football.  “It was good to see.  This community is ready to change and we are all going to work together to do positive things.”

The YSU Men’s Basketball Team is doing it’s best to bolster the confidence of the women’s program.  Having lost five to graduation, the Penguins are now without four underclassmen who were expected to be big pieces in the 2010-11 puzzle. 

Juniors Vance Cooksey and Tom Parks and freshmen Eddie D’Haiti and Lamar McKnight have informed the program that they will not return next season.  No explanations were given as to why the foursome have walked away.

Cooksey and D’Haiti both played adequately this season.  Cooksey started 10 games, but more  importantly, would have been the sparkplug next season.  D’Haiti was more of a physical work in progress.  He played, but very sparingly, and admitted himself that he needed to get stronger to compete at this level.

Parks broke his ankle in December in a snow-related accident and missed all but 11 games.  McKnight redshirted and did not play at all.

This leaves six players, ala YSU Women circa 2010, and that experiment did not yield any wins.  Ashen Ward, Vytas Sulskis, and Dan Boudler are the only three carryovers with any true playing experience for Youngstown State.  Andy Timko (above) appeared in three games, and Sheldon Brogdon and Damian Eargle never saw the court this season.  Fletcher Larson and Kendrick Perry are incoming recruits who have committed.  Aaron Anderson is another potential recruit who is close to signing with the Penguins.

Coach Jerry Slocum has not talked on the matters as of yet.

*** Thanks to Letsgoguins.com for updating a mistake that I printed.  Aaron Anderson signed with North Dakota, not YSU.

Youngstown State could not hold a 5-0 lead after six innings as UIC rallied to post a 9-7 Horizon League win at Eastwood Field on Saturday afternoon.  The bullpen for the Penguins surrendered three home runs over the last three innings, which were the difference in the game.

Sean McDermott, a coach for UIC got tossed in the fifth for calling out the umpires one too many times.  McDermott (below) shouted a host of expletives toward home plate umpire, Paul Lancaster, about the inconsistent strike zone and displeasure toward a called third strike to end an inning for the Flames.

YSU starter, Phil Klein, flirted with danger in his six plus innings loading the bases twice before eventually escaping unharmed.  Klein surrendered five hits over six innings before allowing the leadoff man to reach base in the seventh inning.  Bill Turosky was called in from the bullpen to relieve Klein.  Turosky struck out one batter but allowed the bases to get full yet again. 

Kevin McCulloh was next to pitch for the Penguins.  McCulloh struck out the first batter he faced.  With the bases loaded and two outs, UIC used their biggest weapon, Chris Rutta, to make a pinch-hitting appearance.  Rutta, on an 0-2 pitch, launched a bomb deep into left field which tied the game at 5-5.

Still tied at five runs apiece in the eighth, UIC had Steve McGuigan standing on second base with one out.  On a ball hit to the warning track in right, McGuigan got greedy and tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate.

Jeremy Banks, who was 3-4 with three RBI’s for Youngstown State, started the bottom of the eighth with a single.  Joe Iacobucci was next, and he also singled moving Banks to third with nobody out.  Anthony Porter then slapped an outside pitch to left which appeared to be trapped.  The umpires ruled it a catch and it ended up being a double play.  Despite the shoddy umpiring, Jacke Healey scored from third to give the Penguins a 6-5 lead.

Alex Oles came into the game to pitch the ninth for YSU.  After getting the leadoff man to ground out, everything fell apart.  Penguins RF Tom Clayton slipped in pursuit of a high fly ball which ended up being a gift triple for UIC’s John Rosinski.  The next batter, Joe Betcher, homered to left-ceneter staking UIC to a 7-6 lead.

Trent Wood was called out of the Penguin bullpen to try and douse the flames and give YSU a realistic chance in the bottom of the ninth inning.  UIC catcher, Ryan Meehan, took Wood’s very first pitch out of the park.  When the top of the ninth ended, YSU trailed 9-6.

Freshman Zac McFarland hit his first career home run for Youngstown State to pull the Penguins to 9-7, but that is where the scoring ended.  YSU dropped to 11-12 (3-2, HL) and UIC improved to 7-15 (3-2, HL).  The teams won a game apiece in the three-game set. 

 

 

For Klein (above), who was effective for 2/3 of the game, the result had to be a disappointing no-decision.