After leading the Youngstown State men’s basketball program to three straight winning campaigns for the first time in nearly 40 years and reaching the postseason for the second time in three seasons, Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun has received a contract extension, YSU Executive Director of Athletics Ron Strollo announced.
The new agreement is a five-year deal that extends Calhoun through the 2026-27 season.
“We are pleased with the direction of our men’s basketball program under the direction of Coach Calhoun,” Strollo said. “This commitment just reflects our support of our men’s basketball program, and the priority we put in the stability of our head coaching positions.
“Coach Calhoun and his staff have developed a great culture among our student-athletes, both academically and athletically, and our student-athletes and our coaches have made a tremendous impact on our community. He has done a great job building outstanding young men, and I think our community has really supported Jerrod and Sarah and their family.
“We’re excited about the upcoming season and what else lies ahead in the future.”
Calhoun is the first coach in YSU’s Division I history to take the program to multiple postseason appearances in the 2022 The Basketball Classic and the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, which was canceled due to Covid-19.
He has led the Penguins to three straight winning seasons for the first time since 1982-85 after posting a 19-15 mark in 2021-22. Over the last three years, the Penguins have won 52 games, which matches a school mark for most victories in a three-year span (1982-85).
“I want to thank YSU President Jim Tressel, Athletics Director Ron Strollo, and our Board of Trustees for their trust in me to lead our team and their commitment to our men’s basketball program,” Calhoun said. “My family and I love being here at Youngstown State, and the Youngstown community has truly embraced us. We are grateful for the opportunity to lead this program and look to build upon the successes we have achieved here.”
Calhoun has also guided six All-Horizon League selections in five seasons, and became the first coach in 21 years to have multiple players earn all-conference laurels in the same season.
The 19 wins in 2021-22 were also the most since 2000-01 and set a school record for most wins as members of the Horizon League. The Penguins also set a school record for most conference wins with 12.
Last season, Youngstown State also tied the Division I record for most home wins with 13 and secured the program’s second postseason berth in three years with an appearance in the inaugural The Basketball Classic. The Penguins also won their second postseason game with a 70-65 victory over Morgan State.
Dwayne Cohill led the Penguins with 14.9 points per and a .835 free-throw percentage and was named to the All-Horizon League Third-Team. Cohill ranked third in the league in free-throw percentage and 10th in scoring. He scored in double figures 25 times and had eight games of 20-or-more points.
