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Ever since YSU AD Ron Strollo hired South Carolina Run Game/OL Coordinator Eric Wolford, a Youngstown Native, as head coach, people in the area have had nothing but positive things to say. Penguins fans are excited, for the first time in a number of years, for YSU football this fall!

Staff: Wolford has already hired the Stoops' (Mike, Bob, Mark) oldest brother Ron as a defensive coach and a director of high school relations. He was most recently at Cardinal Mooney in Ohio, home to the Pelini's, Stoops, McCarthy's, Zordich's, and a bunch of other big time football names. He has also hired quite a few high level offensive assistants from Illinois, the former head coach of Miami (OH), and a few other solid hires.

Recruits: Wolford is known for his recruiting. He got arguably the best running back in Youngstown, a kid named Allen Jones. Jones had two other offers to Illinois State and Villanova. He was getting looks at some much larger schools, but they were weary of his size. He is the all-time leading rusher at the defending D5 (back-to-back) state champion Ursuline HS in Youngstown! He is also rumored to be bringing in quite a few bigtime FBS players that are from the area that currently are at schools like OSU, Michigan, and other ones in the area.

Wolf is also going heavily at the kids getting MAC offers. These are the kids that Tressel used to bring to town which made YSU successful.

We may not have immediate success in 2010, because we have NO QB and lost our top three running backs, but I can assure you within 2-3 years, YSU will be a contender for a national title once again. I am not just saying that either, this Allen Jones kid will be a FABULOUS back at this level.

Sounds good. I remember our semifinal match against you guys in 2006 and liked your team. I'd like to see you guys get back to the top of the conference.

We just got a QB commit from the son of New Mexico's head Mike Locksley. The kids name is Meiko Locksley and he had three FBS Offers: NM, NMSU, and Colo. State. He will have a very good chance of starting this upcoming season out of Wolford's spread offense.

It is recruits like this that gives you a hunch that YSU will be back in the near future. A kid with 3 FBS offers, albeit to crappy FBS schools, but still, chooses a FCS school over them. His dad and Wolf coached at Illinois together!

Coordinators:
Offensive: Shane Montgomery [Former Miami (OH) Head Coach/Former Akron Offensive Coordinator]
Defensive: Tom Sims [Former Kansas/Illinois Defensive Line Coach]

We have about three other FBS assistants expected to be coming to Youngstown as well.

guinzone wrote:We just got a QB commit from the son of New Mexico's head Mike Locksley. The kids name is Meiko Locksley and he had three FBS Offers: NM, NMSU, and Colo. State. He will have a very good chance of starting this upcoming season out of Wolford's spread offense.

It is recruits like this that gives you a hunch that YSU will be back in the near future. A kid with 3 FBS offers, albeit to crappy FBS schools, but still, chooses a FCS school over them. His dad and Wolf coached at Illinois together!

Meiko was verbally committed to Towson, his Dad's alma mater. You Penguin Bastards!

Add another school to Andy's shit list...

dbackjon wrote:Add another school to Andy's **** list...

I do have a slot open since Hofstra dropped their program. It's just JMU, Hopkins and ODU right now.

Here is our stacked coaching staff: http://tinyurl.com/ygswmjg

Coaches coming in from Kansas, Illinois, Arizona, Western Michigan, and Akron. As of now, no FCS coaches coming in. Two local high school coaches will also be on the staff, one being Ron Stoops Jr.

YSU has offered Southern Illinois Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo a position.... He may be a Penguin!

guinzone wrote:Penguins fans are excited, for the first time in a number of years, for YSU football this fall!.

You mean they weren't excited in 2006?

T-Dog wrote:

guinzone wrote:Penguins fans are excited, for the first time in a number of years, for YSU football this fall!.

You mean they weren't excited in 2006?

Notwithstanding 2006

guinzone wrote:YSU has offered Southern Illinois Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo a position.... He may be a Penguin!

He was released by SIU after the debacle with William & Mary. You might want to check out the film of that before you hire him, he stunk up the stadium real bad.

houndawg wrote:

guinzone wrote:YSU has offered Southern Illinois Offensive Coordinator Phil Longo a position.... He may be a Penguin!

He was released by SIU after the debacle with William & Mary. You might want to check out the film of that before you hire him, he stunk up the stadium real bad.

We already have an offensive coordinator, the former head coach of Miami (OH) Shane Montgomery. He'd have a minor influence on our offense. Maybe QB Coach?

Well, it is going to be tough in 2010 as YSU opens the season with three teams that played in bowl games in 2009....

DetroitFlyer wrote:Well, it is going to be tough in 2010 as YSU opens the season with three teams that played in bowl games in 2009....

Central Ct. will be down next year without Mallory. YSU should roll them.

danefan wrote:

DetroitFlyer wrote:Well, it is going to be tough in 2010 as YSU opens the season with three teams that played in bowl games in 2009....

Central Ct. will be down next year without Mallory. YSU should roll them.

Yeah right

Silenoz wrote:

danefan wrote:
Central Ct. will be down next year without Mallory. YSU should roll them.

Yeah right

Its a good measuring stick though. If YSU can't walk over a down NEC team....than they've got some problems.

Wait, I read that as Central FL. for some reason

Yeah, YSU CCU should be a good one

Silenoz wrote:Wait, I read that as Central FL. for some reason

Yeah, YSU CCU should be a good one

That explains it.

andy7171 wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Add another school to Andy's **** list...

I do have a slot open since Hofstra dropped their program. It's just JMU, Hopkins and ODU right now.

Hey, wait a minute. Why are we on the list? We haven't met on the gridiron yet. We could be a 2011 CAA win for you guys. Be nice until we beat you.
Man, and I was pulling for Towson against St. Joes last night too.

YSU Coaching Staff
Eric Wolford: Head Coach. Recently at South Carolina and Illinois as Run Game/Off. Line Coordinator
Shane Montgomery: Offensive Coordinator. Recently at Akron in same position. Previous Head Coach at Miami (OH)
Louis Matakis: RB/Special Teams Coordinator. Spent past 5 years in Kansas in similar capacities.
Phil Longo: WR/Recruiting Coordinator. Most recently OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR at Southern Illinois.
Carmen Bricillo: Offensive Line Coach. Most recently at Illinois as offensive assistant.
Andre Coleman: Tight Ends. Former NFL WR. Holds records in Super Bowl.
Rick Kravitz: Defensive Coordinator. Recently at W. Michigan as defensive asst. Spent 10 years as D.C. at USF.
Tom Sims: Defensive Line Coach. Former NFL DL. Spent last 9 years in Big Ten at MN and IL in similar role.
Frank Buffano: Secondary. Spent past five years at Arizona in various capacities.
Ron Stoops Jr: Secondary/HS Relations. Brother to all the Stoops brothers. Past 9 years at the powerful Cardinal Mooney HS as defensive coordinator.

Look at that top notch coaching staff. 6 guys from FBS programs, 1 guy from an FCS program, and a couple high school coaches. Expect two more high school guys to be hired as well.