| Two Assistants Officially Join Slocum's Staff |
| Thursday, April 21 2005 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Youngstown -- Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum announced on Thursday that assistant coaches Michael Wernicki and Brian DePaoli have officially joined his staff. Both Wernicki and DePaoli were present at Slocum's announcement press conference a week ago and have been working with the program full-time since early this week. "Mike and Brian are two people who are tireless workers, they have a tremendous amount of positive energy and they have great basketball knowledge and attitudes," Slocum said. "They are both committed to helping YSU become a winner and they make coming to Youngstown an even more worthwhile experience for myself." Wernicki spent the past two seasons at Canisius College serving as the recruiting coordinator, assisting with on-floor coaching, monitoring academic progress and scouting on Mike MacDonald's staff. A native of Erie, Pa., Wernicki came to Canisius from Division II Merychurst in Erie, Pa., where he spent six seasons as an assistant coach for Karl Fogel. He helped guide the Lakers to three conference tournament appearances and aided in the recruitment and development of two Freshmen-of-the-Year selections and eight all-conference players. The team's best season was in 2000-01 when the Lakers went 17-10. In his final year at Mercyhurst, he coached alongside DePaoli. DePaoli was only Slocum's staff at Gannon the past two seasons as the Golden Knights finished 18-11 in 2004-05 and 22-8 in 2003-04 while qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament both years. DePaoli, also a native of Erie, has been an assistant coach for the past five seasons at the Division II level. He spent two seasons at Clarion, one a Mercyhurst and the past two with the Golden Knights. In three of his five years as an assist his team's appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Slocum said he hopes to name his third assistant coach soon and that the search process for that position is still ongoing. |
| Jerry Slocum Named Program's 12th Head Coach |
| Tuesday, April 12 2005 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Youngstown -- Youngstown State University President Dr. David Sweet announced on Tuesday, April 12, the appointment of Jerry Slocum as the Penguins’ 12th men’s basketball coach in school history. Slocum, who concluded a nine-year tenure at NCAA Division II Gannon University with a 179-78 record, brings 30 years of head-coaching experience with him to Youngstown State. He owns an overall mark of 580-325 having spent nine years at Geneva as well as 12 at Nyack College prior to his stint at Gannon. YSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo said Slocum’s coaching credentials are very impressive and his passion for basketball is unmatched. “Coach Jerry Slocum has had a tremendous coaching career and obviously, we are very excited for him to join our YSU family,” Strollo said. “He has the vision to move our program forward in the Horizon League where we can become very competitive on an annual basis.” Slocum’s teams have been more than competitive during his career as a head coach. In his 30 seasons, he has had 25 winning seasons, including the last 17 campaigns. He has posted 19 20-win seasons throughout his career, including five of the last six years. In 2004-05, Gannon finished 18-11 overall and tied Wayne State for second place in the competitive South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-6 mark. The Golden Knights finished first or second in the South Division of the GLIAC in each of his nine years. In 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 his squad tied for the South Division title. In 2001-02, Gannon had a 12-5 conference record while in 2000-01, the Golden Knights were 13-4. In 2001, Gannon advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game for the first time in school history losing to Grand Valley State. The 53-year-old Slocum was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year following the 1999-2000 campaign after leading the Golden Knights to a 16-3 league record. That season his team posted a 23-5 mark setting his personal best at the school for wins in a season and winning percentage (.821). In each of the past six seasons, Gannon has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Tournament. At Geneva, he was a consistent winner posting 20-win campaigns in his final eight seasons with the Golden Tornadoes. He helped the program make four NAIA Division I Tournament appearances during his tenure. The first came in 1989-90, which was the first time Geneva had qualified for the postseason event since 1956. In his final year at Geneva in 1995-96, the Golden Tornadoes finished 24-7 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament. The previous year, Geneva was 26-6 and won a first-round game in the NAIA Tournament. The win marked the school’s first in the postseason tournament since 1956. Slocum’s head-coaching experience began at Nyack College in Nyack, N.Y., from 1975 through 1987. He spent 12 seasons in charge of the Warriors’ program finishing with a 199-166 overall record. He ended his tenure strong with six 20-win seasons in his final six seasons. His best campaign was a 25-8 mark in 1984-85. Slocum is a 1975 graduate of The Kings, N.Y., College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He earned a Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration from the United States Sports Academy in 1987. Jerry and his wife Kim, have a son, Aaron, and a daughter, Annelli. |
| Three Finalists Announced For Vacant Basketball Coaching Post |
| Monday, April 4 2005 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Youngstown – Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo announced on Monday that three finalists have been named to interview this week for the men’s basketball head coaching position. The three finalists are Indiana (Pa.) Head Coach Gary Edwards, Southern Head Coach Michael Grant and Gannon Head Coach Jerry Slocum. Each of the candidates will be on campus this Tuesday through Thursday taking part in the interview process. Edwards, who has been the head coach at Indiana, Pa., for the past nine seasons, owns a record of 187-79 with the Indians. Overall he has spent 21 seasons as a collegiate head coach posting a 370-247 record for a .600 winning percentage. In 2004-05, the Indians finished 24-9 and were part of a three-way tie for the PSAC Western Division title. IUP defeated Edinboro in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Mount Olive. He was previously the head coach at Charleston Southern for nine seasons from 1987-88 through 1995-96 where he posted a 121-133 record while with the Buccaneers. Grant, who has been the head coach at Southern for the past two seasons, owns a 26-31 record with the Jaguars. In 2004-05, Southern finished 14-15 and had a 10-8 record in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. He has spent nine seasons as a collegiate head coach posting a 152-125 record for a .549 winning percentage. Prior to going to Southern, he was the Head Coach at NAIA Central State for seven seasons from 1996-97 through 2002-03. He posted a 126-94 record while with the Marauders. Slocum, who has been the head coach at Gannon for the past nine seasons, owns a record of 179-78 with the Golden Knights for a .696 winning percentage. In 2004-05, Gannon finished 18-13 while posting an 11-6 record in the competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Golden Knights lost to Southern Indiana in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He has spent 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach posting a 580-325 record for a .641 winning percentage. He was 202-81 while at Geneva for nine seasons and was 199-166 while at Nyack for 12 campaigns. |