YSU ATHLETICS Strollo has less, but program has success

Youngstown State boosters have helped improve the school's facilities.
BOARDMAN -- As the director of athletics at Youngstown State University, Ron Strollo oversees a program with a budget of $8 million, and, like many in the university administration, receives some perks that go along with the job.
Except one.
The YSU women's swimming team will take fall semester finals next week, then leave for the Bahamas on a 10-day practice session.
Strollo's not invited.
"You'll know I've made it," he said to the weekly noon luncheon of the Curbstone Coaches, "when I get to go on that trip. Not this year."
Strollo pointed out that, because of a program in place that allows virtually every college swimming team the same opportunity, it costs the university less to send the team to the Bahamas then it would to house and feed them on campus for the same length of time.
Successful teams
Strollo spoke about the programs at YSU, which have combined to win five Horizon League championships in just three years.
Much of that success, he said, is due to money and support provided by the community. The Curbstone Coaches, for instance, are one of many area groups that help to endow athletic scholarships.
Much of Strollo's work is focused on achieving success with less money than many other Division I programs.
The average Mid-American Conference athletic budget, he said, is around $14 million annually. At Ohio State, it's about $90 million.
Yet, the facilities for YSU athletes are second to none in the Gateway Football Conference and the Horizon League.
"Other athletic directors are in awe of what we accomplish," said Strollo. "The athletic director at Southern Illinois was here for Homecoming; he had the No. 1-ranked football team in I-AA and he said he could only hope for the kind of crowd we had on Homecoming, which was actually kind of disappointing for us."
Help with improvements
Strollo pointed out the many improvements that have been made to Stambaugh Stadium, including a $500,000 video scoreboard, paid for by Coca-Cola as part of a $1 million deal for the football and women's soccer programs.
A new elevator is being built on the south side of the stadium to improve access on game days. The university was responsible for only the cost of the elevator.
"We believe we have the best university-owned venue in I-AA in the country," said Strollo.
Improvements also continue at Beeghly Center. Lighting and sound have been upgraded the past two years to give the building more of an "arena" feel, said Strollo, and the court, which is the original hardwood, will be replaced within 2-3 years.
"All this couldn't be done without the support of the Penguin Club and our sponsorships and endowments," said Strollo.
He takes pride in "doing more with less" than some of the schools Youngstown State competes against.
Next week, the Curbstone Coaches will welcome football coaches Neal Kopp of Austintown Fitch and Dan Yeagley of South Range.