Players anxious to start anew

By Jon Moffett | April 15, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By JON MOFFETT

YOUNGSTOWN

New YSU Womens Coach

Bob Boldon, a standout player at Louisville High and NAIA Walsh University in the mid-1990s, was hired to jump-start a Penguins program coming off the two worst seasons in school history.

Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

Photo

ROBERT K. YOSAY | THE VINDICATOR..Bob Boldon, a standout player at Louisville High and NAIA Walsh University in the mid-1990s, was hired to jump-start a Penguins program coming off the two worst seasons in school history.

Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

Photo

After a winless season, and the resignation of its head coach, the Youngstown State women’s basketball team has nowhere to go but up.

Several members of the team were present for a press conference to learn more about the person who will pilot them this season.

Bob Boldon, 34 and a native of Louisville, was named the sixth coach in program history at the press conference Wednesday. He replaces Cindy Martin, who resigned last month after going 3-57 the past two seasons.

“I’m just pretty excited, because the suspense has kind of been killing us,” sophomore guard Macey Nortey said about the month-long anticipation of a new coach. “But I’m just excited about it all because he seems really positive and his philosophies are great.”

Nortey said Boldon met with the team, but has not gone over any details about next season.

Still, Nortey said the team is excited about a fresh start after a forgettable 0-30 campaign in 2009.

“We’re more than excited to move on,” she said. “I’m just excited that everyone is a year older, and what do we have to lose? We can only get better from here.”

Nortey described Boldon as “laid back” and not an “in your face kind of guy.” She said she thinks his philosophies will mesh well with the team.

Freshman forward Brandi Brown, who averaged a double-double last season, said she too is excited about the possibilities for next year.

“I’m feeling excitement, nerves, all of that,” she said. “I’m really excited to see where this program goes and I’m excited to play under and learn from this new coach.”

Brown said she welcomes the challenges of learning a second new system from a second coach in as many years.

“I think there is a little bit of excitement and nerves in there,” she said. “But I think it’s important to stay open-minded and be coachable as well as be ready to learn whatever is going to be taught.”

Both Nortey and Brown said the presence of an established head coach brings a needed sense of respectability.

“It feels really good to know that we can put the things that happened last year behind us and move forward,” she said.