Bottom line no excuse for keeping a coach with such a losing record and loses his players. no excuse
This article appears in today's Warren Tribune:
AD Strollo discusses YSU basketball programs
April 17, 2016
By JOHN VARGO - Tribune Chronicle , Tribune Chronicle
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YOUNGSTOWN - It's been almost a week since Youngstown State women's basketball coach John Barnes decided to turn down Kent State's offer to coach the Golden Flashes.
Barnes is 57-40 in three years and has 21 victories in the last two, including berths in the WNIT and making the semifinals in the Women's Basketball Invitational.
The YSU women have had 20 or more wins three of the last four years. Freshmen and sophomores were the bulk of last year's team. YSU signed four players leading into next season and has two quality preferred walk-ons as well.
"We're happy where the program is," YSU Director of Athletics Ron Strollo said. "I feel like it has a little ways to go, too. There's that little unfinished business. We haven't reached where we want to be. With this young nucleus and the recruits coming in, we'll take another step toward where we want to be."
Meanwhile, the YSU men's team brings coach Jerry Slocum back for his 12th season, despite having his second-straight 20-loss season.
There were many key injuries during the 2015-16 season, and sophomore and second-team all-Horizon League player Cameron Morse, along with 6-7 small forward Matt Donlan were the only two consistent cogs for the Penguins.
There has been plenty of grumbling from YSU fans that Slocum should be released, but Strollo confirmed the coach is coming back next season, though another 20-loss season is not going to do for this Penguins team.
"We need to make a lot of progress," Strollo said. "Where we finished isn't where any of us wants us to be, including coach Slocum. With all the hands that were dealt last year, it was hard to expect much more. We're looking, obviously, to make dramatic improvement from this past year - wins and losses and placement in the league."
YSU finished seventh in the league and made yet another first-round Horizon League Tournament exit. This one to Detroit.
Where does Strollo want to see YSU finish next season?
"I don't think it's ever good to put numbers to things," he said. "You get a sense of how the season is going. You always have to feel good about the future.
"All those evaluations happen at the end of the year."
Regarding the women's program and Barnes, Strollo said he realizes that as long as the current success continues, offers like the one from Kent State and most likely from much better programs, will continue.
When that time comes, Strollo is prepared to look for the right candidate to continue the Penguins' success.
"When you're in this business, that's part of the world you live in," he said. "Who's on what staff? Who might be potential candidates, and all those things. Sometimes those people you're thinking about end up being the candidate that replaces your coach - a good example of that is coach Barnes. Sometimes the one you end up picking isn't the one on your list - a good example of that is coach (Bob) Boldon.
"I've been kind of a part of both. You're always educating yourself on who those top candidates are."
Slocum's record of losing transfers in the offseason continued this year when 6-foot-5 freshman small forward Jordan Andrews left after one season. He averaged around eight points a game and had plenty of upside.
The Penguins signed Braun Hartfield, a 6-4 guard from Garfield Heights, the team which beat Warren G. Harding in a Division I regional semifinal.
There are a couple of scholarships remaining.
The Penguins, according to verbalcommits.com, have made a couple of offers to possible prospects.
One is to Zach Hollywood, a 6-foot-8, 185-pound post from Bradley-Bourbonnais High School (Ill.). He signed a letter of intent to James Madison in mid-November, but recently broke that commitment. YSU, Ball State, Fairfield, Evansville and American have made Hollywood offers. However, what might set the Penguins apart is that Hollywood's father, Scott, played at YSU from 1987-88.
Another big man the Penguins have made an offer to is Shandon "Biggie" Goldman, a 6-9, 210-pound post who also has interest from Florida International, Utah State, Boston College and Sam Houston State.
Goldman went to Tennessee Prep and is from Evansville, Ark.
YSU has another offer to Travis Yenor, a 6-8, 210-pound power forward from Meridian, Idaho. He attended the Ambrose School. He has interest in Air Force, Denver, Columbia and Colgate, but none have given Yenor an offer.
YSU is in desperate need of big man since it loses 6-10 senior Bobby Hain, whose final season was cut short by a foot injury.
After Hain's injury in mid-December, YSU did have wins against postseason teams Oakland (Vegas 16) and Green Bay (NCAA), but couldn't overcome a lineup which included few players who had played the previous season.
