Youngstown State Retires 319 in Honor of Former Coach Ed DiGregorio

by YSU

Thursday, Mar 14, 2013 5:36 am

The Youngstown State Athletic Department retired the jersey 319 in honor of former Women's Basketball Head Coach Ed DiGregorio at halftime of the YSU-Cleveland State Horizon League Tournament quarterfinal game at the Beeghly Center on Wednesday evening.

DiGregorio, the "winningest" coach in school history, led the women's program for 20 years and amassed 319 victories from 1983-2003. Former DiGregorio players for the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's returned to the Beeghly Center to join DiGregorio and his wife, Edie, in the halftime celebration.

During his tenure, DiGregorio was named the Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1999, coached four players of the year. Thirteen players were named first-team all-conference while 10 were named to all-conference second teams. Four athletes earned the honor of being the best in the conference - Dorothy Bowers (1987-88 in the Ohio Valley), Liz Hauger (1996-97 in the Mid-Con), Shannon Beach (1997-98 in the Mid-Con) and Brianne Kenneally (1998-99 and 1999- 2000 in the Mid-Con).

He led the Penguins to six 20-win seasons, including five consecutive seasons with at least 20 victories from 1995-96 to 1999-2000.  The Youngstown, Ohio, native also guided the Penguins to five straight Mid-Continent Conference titles from 1994-95 to 1998-99, three Mid-Con tournament titles (1996, 1998, 2000) and three NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1998, the Penguins upset fifth-seeded Memphis, 91-80, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

At the time of his retirement in 2003, he is one of just 58 women's basketball coaches in NCAA Division I history to record 300 wins.

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