| Tiffany Patteson Returns to YSU as Assistant Softball Coach |
| Tuesday, June 24 2008 |
| Courtesy of: |
| 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. |
| Penguins Tab Tiffin's Brian Campbell New Softball Head Coach |
| Tuesday, June 17 2008 |
| Courtesy of: |
| 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 |