Football

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Penguins-Buckeyes Kickoff Set For Noon
Thursday, July 3 2008

Chicago, Ill. -- Kickoff for the second consecutive season-opening meeting between Youngstown State and Ohio State on Aug. 30 has been set for Noon at Ohio Stadium and will be aired on The Big Ten Network, the network announced today.

All games produced by the Big Ten Network will be available to cable and satellite operators nationwide as part of their agreements to carry the network.
Whenever the Big Ten Network is producing more than one game airing at the same time, the network will split the feeds regionally among cable operators to allow Big Ten fans to watch the game with the most regional interest. In addition, cable and satellite providers that have agreed to carry the network will be offered the chance to carry the additional games via "overflow" channels. On Aug. 30, the network is scheduled to televise five games.

The Big Ten Network allows fans to see teams regardless of where they live. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, the network currently has agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse and 230 cable operators.
Fans should contact their local cable affiliate to check if the Big Ten Network is carried by their provider.

The 2008 Penguins will return in full force for fall camp on Sunday, August 3.

Also in Columbus that weekend will be the Youngstown State volleyball team. The Penguins play Xavier and Toledo on Friday, Aug. 29 before battling the Buckeyes at 6 p.m. on Saturday following the football game.

Softball

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Tiffany Patteson Returns to YSU as Assistant Softball Coach
Tuesday, June 24 2008

Youngstown -- Tiffany Patteson, the most-decorated softball player in Youngstown State history, has returned to her alma mater to serve as an assistant softball coach, Head Softball Coach Brian Campbell announced on Monday. Patteson will begin her duties on July 1.

"Having Tiffany join me at Youngstown State is a natural fit," Campbell said. "She is a bright, young and hard-working coach who has a passion for the game of softball and a love for Youngstown State University."

Patteson, the 2006 YSU-Vindicator Female Athlete of the Year, spent the 2008 season as a graduate assistant coach at Tiffin, where she helped guide the Dragons to a 27-14-1 record in their inaugural season as an NCAA Division II squad.

A four-year letterwinner at Youngstown State from 2003-06, Patteson served as a student assistant coach during the 2007 while completing her degree.

Patteson said she is honored to return to her alma mater and join the coaching staff.

"It is a real privilege for me to return to the Youngstown State softball program as an assistant coach," Patteson said. "My experience as a student-athlete at Youngstown State was incredible, and I want to help our current and future student-athletes to share in the same type success that I enjoyed."

Patteson, a four-time All-Horizon League selection, owns several Youngstown State all-time records, including games played (205), games started (205), hits (231), at-bats (664), doubles (56), triples (18), walks (84) and runs scored (121). Patteson also ranks second all-time in batting average (.347) and fourth all-time with 93 runs batted in. She is the only player in school history to play in more than 200 games.

In 2006, Patteson led the team with a .361 batting average, three triples and 14 doubles and blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against UIC to give YSU a 2-1 win and its first Horizon League Tournament Championship and NCAA Regional Tournament berth.

Patteson earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Youngstown State in 2007 and is working on her master's degree at Tiffin.

Women's Basketball

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Women's Basketball Inks Junior College Guard Jaquetta Westley
Tuesday, June 24 2008

Youngstown – Jaquetta Westley (Joliet, Ill./Township), a 5-foot-7 guard from Spoon River College, has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her education and basketball career at Youngstown State University, Head Coach Cindy Martin announced Monday.

Westley, who is Martin's third signee, will be a junior and have two years of eligibility beginning in the 2008-09 season.

"We are very fortunate to pick up someone with Jaquetta’s talent and college experience," Martin said. "Jaquetta is a strong and physical guard that can create her own shot off the dribble. She will be great in our transition game both offensively and defensively."

Last season at Spoon River, Westley was named first-team all-region and all-conference after averaging 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.

Westley was also a first-team all-conference selection as a freshman at Spoon River.

"The reason I chose YSU is because I love the atmosphere of the campus and feel comfortable around the players and coaches," Westley said. "YSU is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to further my basketball career and my education so I can be on top of my game on and off the court."

Westley joins Kenya Middlebrooks (Toledo, Ohio), Macey Nortey (Long Beach, Calif.) and Camisha Alexander (Beckley, W.Va.), who signed during the early signing period, in the 2008-09 recruiting class.

Football

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Jeff Wilkins' Return Highlights Upcoming Kicking Camp
Tuesday, June 24 2008

Youngstown – Former standout Youngstown State and NFL placekickers Jeff Wilkins and Paul McFadden will team up to host the Penguins' 2008 Kicking Camp which is set to be held July 7-8 at Stambaugh Stadium.

Wilkins, who retired after a 14-year career in professional football in February, has not been able to attend the camp the past few years because of offseason workouts with the St. Louis Rams.

The camp is $90 for commuters and $150 for individuals who wish to stay overnight on Monday. Fundamentals of kicking, both soccer style and conventional, as well as punting will be stressed. For information contact the football office at (330) 941-3478 or download a form HERE.

Participants need to bring practice clothes, tennis or turf shoes, a football and kicking tees and extra-point blocks. For resident campers a pillow, sheets or sleeping bag, towels and toiletries.

Residents will check-in from 9-10 a.m. on Monday at the Cafaro House while commuters check-in between 9:30-10 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. The camp will run all day until 8 p.m. and lunch and dinner will be served.

On Tuesday, the camp begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. All participants will receive a t-shirt.

Wilkins spent the final 11 seasons of his career playing for the Rams. He did not miss an extra point from 1998 through 2007 while scoring 1,416 career points. Wilkins scored a career-high 163 points with the Rams in 2003. That season he made a career-best 39 field goals in a career-high 42 tries. In 1999, he made 64-of-64 extra-point tries.

He was part of a Super Bowl Champion as St. Louis won the Super Bowl XXIV in 2000. He was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after kicking for YSU from 1990-93. He spent two years with the San Francisco 49ers before becoming a mainstay for the Rams.

McFadden also brings impressive credentials to the camp. A bare-footed specialist who was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, he played a total of six seasons in the NFL for three teams.

McFadden amassed 520 points in his career, converting 160-of-165 point-after attempts and 120-of-175 field-goal tries. He began his career in Philadelphia scoring a team rookie record 116 points making 30-of-37 field-goal attempts. He was named the NFC’s Rookie of the Year and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl. He spent his first four years with Philadelphia before moving on to New York in 1988 and Atlanta in 1989. He was a 12th round draft pick originally by the Eagles.

McFadden handled kicking duties for the Penguins from 1980-83.

Men's Tennis

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Men's Tennis Adds Two New Recruits
Saturday, June 21 2008

Youngstown -- Head men's tennis coach Eric Ronan announced that Patrick Hamning and Michael Kathary have signed letters of intent to join the tennis program this fall.

Hamning of Middletown, Ohio played at No. 2 singles his freshman and sophomore years at Lakota East High School before transferring to Middletown High School in his junior year. While at Middletown Hamning played at No. 1 singles and was the sectional runner-up in doubles. He also joined teammate Michael Cole to become district champions in doubles and claim the State Title in Division I doubles.

Hamming enjoyed continued success at doubles in his senior year as well. He was a sectional champion district runner-up and a State Division 1 quarterfinalist. Hamning also won the prestigious Cincinnati High School Coaches Classic tournament playing in the most competitive bracket.

Kathary, younger brother to YSU tennis stand-out Scott Kathary, graduated from Dublin-Scioto and attended Costal Carolina for a year before deciding to continue his tennis career at YSU. In his junior year, Kathary won second place in the 2006 Central District Boys Tennis Tournament. While in high school he also placed fourth at No. 1 singles at the OCC-Capital Tournament and third place at the sectional at Davidson. Kathary holds the honor of becoming Dublin-Scioto's first two-time state qualifier.

Ronan is excited about the additions to the team

"We have two great new players and I'm really looking forward to the fall and spring seasons," he added.

Softball

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Penguins Tab Tiffin's Brian Campbell New Softball Head Coach
Tuesday, June 17 2008

Youngstown -- Brian Campbell, the winningest softball coach in Tiffin University history, has been named the ninth Head Coach of the Youngstown State University softball program, Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo announced on Tuesday.

Campbell, who just completed his eighth year as head coach and his 12th year overall working with the Lady Dragons' softball program, posted an impressive 285-129-1 overall record and a .688 winning percentage during his tenure.

"We are delighted to have Brian Campbell join our Penguin family as the new Head Softball Coach," Strollo said. "He brings with him not only a proven track record as a successful head coach, but also a commitment to providing a positive collegiate experience for his student-athletes."

"This is a great opportunity for my family and me," Campbell said. "Youngstown State has all of the tools in place to return to the top of the Horizon League, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead its softball program."

Campbell transitioned Tiffin into an NCAA Division II program from the NAIA, and in its first season as an NCAA Division II, Independent the Dragons finished with a 27-14-1 record. Tiffin was ranked as high as 32nd in the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) national polls in 2008 while moving as high as 13th in the NAIA national rankings in 2007.

Campbell, who has averaged 36 wins per season, was named American Midwest Conference (AMC) North Coach of the Year in 2007 for the third consecutive season after leading the Dragons to a 37-11 mark, a Region IX Championship and their second straight appearance in the NAIA National Softball Tournament.

In 2006, Campbell guided Tiffin to an impressive 57-11 overall record and the program's first Region IX title and first NAIA National Tournament appearance.

Campbell led Tiffin to four-consecutive AMC North Championships from 2004 to 2007 and the AMC Championship in 2002 with a 25-3 conference record and a 31-17 overall mark.

During the 2005 campaign, the Dragons compiled a 34-22 overall mark and an 11-1 conference record on the way to their third conference title in four years.

Campbell led Tiffin to a perfect 14-0 conference record and a 39-15 overall mark during the 2004 AMC North Championship season.

The Dragons earned conference runner-up honors in 2003 with a 33-20 overall mark and a 16-4 league record. They won their first league title in 2002 after posting a 25-3 conference record and a 31-17 overall mark.

After four seasons as an assistant coach, Campbell took over the Tiffin program in 2001 and posted a 27-19 overall record.

Campbell has coached 39 All-Conference selections, including 2007 Region and Conference Pitcher of the Year Krista Sowers, 2006 AMC North Player of the Year Kristina Schweikert, 2005 AMC North Player of the Year Denita Robinson, 2005 AMC North Pitcher of the Year and 2004 AMC North Player of the Year Rachel Richardson and 2002 AMC Player of the Year Kate Siroky.

He also serves as a national rater for softball for the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll and is a member of the NFCA Division II Head Coaches Committee.

Campbell, who also served as Assistant Athletic Director, is a 1994 graduate of Tiffin University with a degree in criminal justice. He also has a master's degree in criminal justice from Tiffin.

Campbell played for the Tiffin football team from 1990-94 on the offensive line, helping to lead the Dragons to their first-ever National Tournament appearance.

He also served as an assistant football coach from 1997-2000 and was an assistant coach at Newark High School.

He and his wife, Kristi, have a daughter, Courtney.



Brian Campbell Year-By-Year
Year Record Pct. Notes
2008 27-14-1 .659 NCAA Division II Independent
2007 37-11 .771 Region IX, AMC North Champs, NAIA Qualifier
2006 59-11 .838 Region IX, AMC North Champs, NAIA Qualifier
2005 34-22 .607 AMC North Champs
2004 39-15 .722 AMC North Champs
2003 33-20 .622 AMC Central Runners-Up
2002 25-3 .646 AMC Champions
2001 27-19 .587
Total 285-129-1 .688