Indoor practice facility is goal for YSU progress

By John Kovach

Raising funds for projects is a growing challenge for the athletic department.

BOARDMAN — Despite growing costs, the Youngstown State athletic program is a progressive one that strives to bring improvement and innovation to its facilities every year.

That’s the message that YSU athletic director Ron Strollo told the Curbstone Coaches Monday night at their opening meeting at the Lone Wolf Banquet and Catering Center.

Strollo, who was introduced by former YSU athletic director Joe Malmisur, said one of the symbols of YSU’s strategy is the proposed new indoor practice facility that may be constructed within the next two years.

Malmisur, who has been assisting Strollo and others with fund-raising for the new indoor facility, said YSU is making steady progress under Strollo despite the fact that the university budget has ballooned, making projects and progress more challenging.

“We had it made in the old days [with a much smaller budget]. We had part-time coaches, and today we can’t afford part-time coaches. It is a lot more difficult today,” Malmisur said. “But we inherited the success of the 1990s and we are making steady progress under Strollo. Maintenance is a sign of mediocrity. You have to have progress.”

Strollo echoed Malmisur.

“We have made improvements the last six years,” Strollo said. “We are trying to do something every year to stay ahead of the curve.”

He emphasized that, “Facilities are the backbone of our university,” and that he, Malmisur and others “are out there fund-raising, standing at the door and waiting for the checks to come in for our new indoor facility that [former coach] Jim Tressel started. We already have received a $750,000 contribution from Edward DeBartolo.”

Strollo said he should know more about the location and costs within about six months.

“We are asking for significant dollars. We have raised $3 million so far for the project. The ultimate cost will be determined by MS Consutants. That will depend on the location and the cost estimates determined by architect Tony Hayek of MS Consultants.”

Now the task is to raise the money.

“We are in the quiet phase of fund-raising. Hayek [and others] will answer the questions of location and cost, and we hope to receive helpful guidance from trustee Harry Meshel,” said Strollo, referring to the new YSU trustee and former state senator who was in the audience as a Curbstone member.

Strollo said three possible sites are under consideration: west of the campus across Fifth Avenue, the college tennis courts in the middle of the campus east of Beeghly Center, and the practice field and track east of Stambaugh Stadium and west of Wick Avenue.

He appears to be leaning toward the dome being constructed over the practice field and track because, obviously, both already are there and “the hammer and discus facilities have to be moved out of the [Smokey] Hollow.”

But Strollo still likes the west-of-Fifth site because it will clear blighted houses away.

“We have four more houses to tear down west of Fifth. This is a pet project for me because it helps the city fight negative publicity. Coaches [of rival schools] are telling recruits that it is not safe to come here,” he said.

However, he pointed out, “West of Fifth could present a safety problem with students having to cross Fifth, which is a busy street, before and after workouts.

“Another possible site are the tennis courts, but that would be a tight fit for a football field.”

Curbstone president Joe Maxin presented a $2,000 check to Strollo for the university for helping the youth of the community.