| Meredith Baugher Set to Join Women's Basketball Staff |
| Saturday, August 9 2008 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Youngstown -- Northeastern Ohio native and former Valparaiso University assistant coach Meredith Baugher has accepted an offer to join the women's basketball staff at Youngstown State University, Penguins head coach Cindy Martin announced. Baugher (pronounced BAW-ker), who spent the last seven seasons at Valpo as both a player and a coach, will replace Jen Duhnke on Martin's staff. Duhnke opted to leave her post on July 31 due to family health concerns. Baugher will start on Aug. 18 upon the completion of paperwork. A Berea, Ohio, native, Baugher is the third member of Martin's coaching staff to have roots in the Buckeye State and the second with Horizon League ties. "I am ecstatic to add someone with Meredith's credentials to our coaching staff," Martin said. "She will make a huge impact with her coaching and recruiting experience in the Horizon League. Over the last three years, she has proven herself as a recruiter in the Midwest region, and her Ohio ties will be a great asset." "Our staff and team was sad to see Jen leave, and we wish her the best of luck." Baugher echoed Martin's enthusiasm in coming to Youngstown. "I am excited to become part of such a great coaching staff with a great vision for the Youngstown State women's basketball program," she said. "It felt right at home being up on campus, and the people that surround the university are welcoming and eager to put the program back on the map." Baugher helped lead Valpo through a long stretch of success during her seven seasons. While she was a player from 2001-05, the Crusaders made two NCAA Tournament appearances, qualified for the quarterfinals of the Women's National Invitational Tournament, won two Mid-Continent Conference tournament titles and one regular-season crown. Prior to the the 2007-08 season when Valpo joined the Horizon League, Baugher was named the team's recruiting coordinator in addition to her duties of coaching the post players and assisting in scouting. In her second season on the bench, the Crusaders posted a 20-11 record in its final year in the Mid-Con. Baugher helped with film exchange, produced publications for coaches and alumni and assisted in recruiting during her first year. A three-time Mid-Con All-Academic Team honoree, Baugher also helped Valparaiso to the 24th-best team grade-point average out of all Division I teams in the country last season. The Crusaders have been ranked in the top-25 in each of the last 10 seasons, and Martin hopes Baugher can help the Penguins establish a similar academic trend. "One of our team goals is to see our GPA rise to the top of the conference, and it is a natural fit for Meredith to oversee our team academics with the success she has had as a student-athlete and coach at Valparaiso over the last seven years," Martin said. In addition to Baugher hailing from Berea, current assistants Bernard Scott and Shannon Sword are from Cleveland and Miamisburg, respectively. Sword played for Cleveland State from 2001-04. |