Youngstown State Head Football Coach Eric Wolford announced on Tuesday that veteran defensive coordinator Joe Tresey will assume that role with the Penguins while Glenn Davis has been added to coach the cornerbacks.
Tresey, a native of Warren and graduate of The Ohio State University, spent the 2011 campaign as the defensive coordinator at UCLA. Davis, a native of Tampa, Fla., served the past two campaigns as a defensive quality control coach at USF.
Tresey will bring an aggressive style and fiery personality to the sideline for the Penguins. During his career he has spent time at the high school, NCAA Division III, FCS and FBS levels.
He has spent four of the past five years as a defensive coordinator for BCS programs - UCLA (2011), South Florida (2009) and Cincinnati (2007-08). He has experience at the FCS level, coaching at Georgia Southern (2004-05) and VMI (1999-01). He also coached in the Mid-American Conference at Central Michigan (2006) and Akron (2002-03). In 2010 he served as the defensive backs coach for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He coached at Otterbein (Division III).
In 2011, UCLA appeared in the first-ever Pac-12 Championship Game and advanced to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco. He also coached the safeties for the Bruins.
In his lone season with South Florida, the Bulls ranked 24th nationally in total defense (321.8 yards) and 19th in scoring defense (19.8 points allowed) while compiling a record of 8-5. USF defeated Northern Illinois in the International Bowl to finish the campaign 8-5. The Bulls defeated Florida State for the first time in the program's history during his tenure as coordinator and secondary coach.
Tresey spent two seasons as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Cincinnati under current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. In 2007, he authored a Bearcats defense that led the nation in turnovers gained (42) and interceptions (26). A pair of Bearcat defenders earned All-America honors and two others were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft. UC finished 13th nationally in scoring defense (18.
, was 19th in rushing defense (114.2) and put five of 11 defensive starters on the All-Big East team. UC went 10-3 and capped the season with win in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
In 2008, Cincinnati ranked 31st nationally in total defense (321.9 yards), 19th in rushing defense (115.0) and 25th in scoring defense (20.1 points). The Bearcats were 11-3, won the Big East Conference and played Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl. It was the first time in UC history the program won 11 games in a single season.
Davis spent the 2010 and 2011 season's under Coach Skip Holtz at USF. In 2010, USF was 8-5 overall and defeated Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. In 2011, the Bulls were 5-7.
One of USF's first stars on the gridiron, Davis returned to the Bulls football program in July 2010 in the role of defensive quality control.
Davis spent the 2009 spring season as the secondary coach at Division II Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Ala., before moving on to Union Christian Prep Academy in Cincinnati in the fall to serve as the defensive coordinator.
Prior to his stint there, Davis spent two years as the defensive coordinator at Freedom High School from 2007-08. In 2006, Davis was the defensive coordinator for the Birmingham Steeldogs of the arenafootball2 league.
Following his USF career, Davis signed with the New York Jets in 2001 as a free agent, then played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2002) of the CFL and three years of arena football with the Orlando Predators (2003), the Carolina Cobras (2004) and the Wilkes-Barre Pioneers (2005).
The Penguins are set to start spring drills on Wednesday, March 21.
