Calhoun named YSU coach
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University’s mens basketball program is hoping Jerrod Calhoun’s success at Div. II Fairmont State will mean big things for the Penguin basketball program.
Calhoun, who has ties to East Liverpool, was officially named the Penguins’ mens basketball coach on Monday.
“Jerrod Calhoun brings every attribute that we were looking for in a head coach to our basketball program,” YSU athletic director Ron Strollo said. “Not only does he have an enormously successful track record as a head coach, he also has experience with a high-major Division I program as an assistant coach, strong regional recruiting ties and a passion to be at Youngstown State. Jerrod is highly motivated to build our program, connect with our community and make a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes.”
Calhoun, 35, grew up in East Liverpool before moving to the Cleveland area prior to high school. He played basketball first for Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph and later for the legendary Rollie Massimino at Cleveland State. Calhoun is known as a relentless recruiter with a solid reputation as a winner.
In leading Fairmont State to a school’s best 34-3 record that included a regular-season Mountain East Conference championship, an NCAA Div. II tournament runner-up finish and an Atlantic Region title, Calhoun garnered conference, region and national coach of the year honors. In five years on the Falcons bench, Calhoun led the Falcons to an overall record of 124-38.
Calhoun replaces Jerry Slocum, who won a total of 142 games in 12 seasons with YSU. The Penguins recently advanced to the Horizon League semifinals — their first such appearance since 1998-99 as a member of the Mid-Continent Conference — before falling to Northern Kentucky.
“First of all, I want to thank president (Jim) Tressel, athletic director Ron Strollo and the entire YSU community for the opportunity to lead this program,” Calhoun said. “I am from Northeast Ohio, I have family all over Northeast Ohio and I know people in the Mahoning Valley love sports. We’re excited to build and grow a program that people love to watch.
“There are many really good things happening at Youngstown State, and we want basketball to be a part of that. I believe you build it with people, and the people of Youngstown State drew me to this job. The administration, the campus and the city are all full of good people.”
Calhoun was said to be an obvious candidate for the open Cleveland State head coaching position, but that was filled late last week by former Georgia coach Dennis Felton.
Calhoun was a successful assistant coach at Walsh and most recently at West Virginia under Bob Huggins. He spent four years at WVU as the director of basketball operations before serving as an assistant coach in 2011-12.
The Mountaineers went 19-14 during Calhoun’s last season there and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. During his five years in Morgantown, the Mountaineers posted an overall record of 120-36 with five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2010 Final Four and the 2008 Sweet 16.
At Walsh, the Cavaliers posted an 82-21 record during his three seasons in North Canton, Ohio. Walsh won the 2005 NAIA national championship while advancing to the Elite Eight in 2006 and the Sweet 16 in 2007.
Calhoun, a 2004 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, began his coaching career at Cincinnati in 2003-04, where he served as a student assistant under Huggins. That year, the Bearcats were 25-7 overall and advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
“There’s a lot of excitement around here, and we want the basketball program to be a part of that,” Calhoun said. “Our players will be a part of the community. They’ll be visible, they’ll be active and we’ll build a program that makes this university and the Mahoning Valley proud.”