Tobacco road runs away from YSU - again
By John Vargo Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN State University stated its finalists for the men's basketball coach. John Robic was the Penguins' coach the past six seasons.
Monday, YSU officially announced Southern University's Michael Grant, Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Gary Edwards and Gannon University's Jerry Slocum are the final three.
The media will interview the basketball finalists, just as they've done in previous years.
The interviews start today with Grant, then Edwards on Wednesday and Slocum on Thursday.
All the interviews begin at 2 p.m. on YSU's campus.
However, one name is missing on this finalists list - North Carolina State assistant Larry Hunter.
The former Ohio University coach, who mentored the Gary Trent-led Bobcats to the NCAA Tournament in 1994, was slated to interview. There is a possibility he might interview this week, but it's highly unlikely.
With the YSU job offering between $100,000 and 130,000, do you blame him for not coming to Youngstown?
Hunter was not in his office Monday in Raleigh, N.C. for comment.
With his name prominately mentioned in this search, Hunter is the third consecutive candidate to have a connection with a 'Tobacco Road' school - N.C. State.
Before Dan Peters was hired in 1993, current Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek was a candidate for the then-YSU opening. Sendek later took the Miami of Ohio job before landing at N.C. State.
Current Xavier coach Sean Miller, who was probably the favorite in 1999 after Peters resigned to take a Cincinnati assistant's position, withdrew from contention after his finalist interview and returned to his assistant position with the Wolfpack.
Hunter, who would be the favorite this time around, has proven himself at Ohio University and definitely would turn this program around. And being an assistant on this season's N.C. State's Sweet 16 run shows he has recent NCAA Tournament experience.
Other than Hunter, Grant is the only other finalist with Division I experience.
Grant, who accounted for over 100 wins at Central State University in seven seasons, has made it clear he wants this position.
Grant said he has connections with Ohio and western Pennsylvania, especially at Canton McKinley High School where his younger brother Gary won a Class AAA state championship in 1984.
McKinley won this season's Division I state title, the first since that hallowed 1984 team.
Grant was a player and a coach under legendary Malone coach Hal Smith.
However, if Hunter does not interview, Slocum, an NCAA Division II coach, has been rumored to be the favorite.
Slocum was a finalist for the Robert Morris position a couple years ago before Danny Nee was interested and finally got the job.
Slocum has Ohio and western Pennsylvania ties, as indicated by his 2004-05 roster.
One of those names is Warren G. Harding graduate Shelby Chaney, who has dramatically improved in his two years with the Golden Knights. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound sophomore forward, who averaged 14.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-South Division second team.
Aside from the four other names mentioned, current YSU assistant Dolph Carroll should have been considered by the search committee and athletic director Ron Strollo.
Carroll has a proven Division I assistant track record and at Yavapai Junior College. Carroll also tried to implement his coaching skills as Robic's top assistant, but was held back from showing his full potential by Robic, just like his teams were the past six seasons.
Carroll is also well thought of in and around the YSU community.
It's just something to think about as Strollo ultimately decides the future of the men's basketball program.
jvargo@tribune-chronicle.com
www.tribune-chronicle.com/sports/story/045202005_spt4column05.asp
