Correspondence photograph / Robert Hayes. New YSU head coach Ethan Faulkner calls a play in the course of the Penguins' win over Navy final season.
YOUNGSTOWN — Following the departure of former coach Jerrod Calhoun to Utah State, Youngstown State has named its subsequent males's basketball coach.
Ethan Faulkner, who first joined this system in 2019 as an assistant coach on Calhoun's employees, was formally named this system's 14th head coach in program historical past Monday afternoon, in response to a information launch. Faulkner was promoted to move coach from his earlier place of affiliate head coach.
“We really feel very lucky to have somebody of Ethan's caliber step into this function and lead our program,” athletic director Ron Strollo mentioned in an announcement. “It was necessary for us to make this decisive determination to guarantee our present gamers, portal transfers, highschool recruits and supporters that this system will proceed to succeed. Ethan has earned the belief of our student-athletes together with our recruits and has labored hand-in-hand with Coach Calhoun to create and preserve a successful tradition.”
YSU will introduce Faulkner with a press convention on Rosselli Courtroom on the Beeghly Heart on Wednesday afternoon.
The Tribune Chronicle and Vindicator first reported late Friday evening that Faulkner was the favourite to succeed Calhoun, in response to a supply, after ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Calhoun would depart to take the Utah State job.
The Aggies formally introduced Calhoun's hiring Saturday morning, adopted shortly by an announcement from YSU confirming Calhoun's departure.
“I need to thank Jerrod for the unbelievable affect he has had on our males's basketball program, the lives of our student-athletes and our Youngstown neighborhood.” Strollo mentioned within the assertion Saturday. “He and his spouse, Sarah, have made Youngstown their residence and invested in our Mahoning Valley. He introduced Youngstown State its first basketball convention championship, and our program continues its upward trajectory. Coach Calhoun has been a driving pressure in facilitating our upcoming renovations to the Beeghly Heart, that are set to start on Could 6, 2024. We want Jerrod, Sarah and their household one of the best of luck at Utah State College.”
Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports activities then confirmed reporting from the Tribune Chronicle and Vindicator on Saturday afternoon with a report that YSU will name Faulkner for the pinnacle teaching job.
“I’m honored to be the following head coach at Youngstown State,” Faulkner mentioned in Monday's information launch. “I need to thank Director of Athletics Ron Strollo, YSU President Invoice Johnson and our Board of Trustees for his or her help and confidence in me. I additionally need to thank Jerrod Calhoun for every part he has completed for me personally and for our basketball program. YSU basketball has by no means stood on firmer floor. Our employees and I’ll work tirelessly to make sure that our constructive momentum continues with the last word objective of reaching the NCAA Event.”
YSU wished to maneuver shortly with the teaching search with the switch portal nonetheless open. This weekend additionally sees the Males's Ultimate 4 in Phoenix, which is the positioning of this 12 months's Nationwide Basketball Coaches Affiliation Annual Conference.
The conference supplies a possibility for coaches to community and in addition meet and interview potential assistant coaches, permitting Faulkner to spherical out his employees.
The Penguins have been on an upward development throughout Calhoun's tenure, and Faulkner's hiring supplies continuity to a program presently going by its most profitable stretch in Division I historical past.
Faulkner performed a key function in guiding the Penguins to 5 consecutive successful seasons for the primary time in YSU's Division I period (since 1981-82). Over the previous three years, the Penguins have received a Horizon League conference-best 41 video games and 65 video games total.
YSU simply accomplished a 22-10 report final season after going 24-10 and successful its first Horizon League common season championship final season. That is the primary time the Penguins have compiled consecutive 20+ win seasons of their Division I historical past.
With 5 gamers finishing their eligibility final season and two extra leaving by the switch window to this point this offseason, Faulkner shall be tasked with rebuilding YSU's roster.
Faulkner performed faculty basketball at Horizon League rival Northern Kentucky and was a two-year captain earlier than graduating in 2014. He performed in 117 video games with 73 begins in his profession.
Previous to arriving at YSU in 2019, Faulkner served as an assistant coach for 3 years on the College of the Cumberlands, one season at Mount Vernon Nazarene College and one season as an assistant at Northern Kentucky.
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