Canfield hires new boys basketball boss

For the first time in nearly three decades, the Canfield boys basketball team will play under new leadership.

The Canfield School Board named Todd Muckleroy as the new boys varsity basketball coach at its June 30 meeting. The new coach will replace John Cullen, who accepted a position with the Youngstown State women’s basketball program.

“We were very fortunate to have had a number of outstanding applicants for Coach Cullen’s former position. But because of that, it was a tough decision as to who we would hire,” said school Superintendent Dante Zambrini. “We feel that in Coach Muckleroy, we have as fine a young teacher-coach as any in the state joining our staff.”

Canfield’s new coach has 10 years experience coaching high school basketball. For the past five years (2005-10), Muckleroy has been the boys’ varsity head coach at Streetsboro High School. There, he led the Rockets to four consecutive winning seasons, two Portage Trail Conference championships, two Sectional championships and a District title in 2009. His career record is 68-42.

Muckleroy is a 1992 graduate of West Branch High School, received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Akron in 2000 and his master’s degree from Walden University in 2008.

In addition to coaching, he will also teach in the Social Studies department at Canfield High School.

“My family and I are thankful for the opportunity to live in the city of Canfield and be a part of its rich tradition. I am excited to teach in a superior school district as well as lead the Cardinals boys’ basketball team to success. It is a true honor to be selected as the head coach following legend John Cullen,” said Muckleroy.

Muckleroy inherits a boys’ basketball program that has been consistently competitive in the Valley during Cullen’s 28 year tenure. In this decade, the Cardinals have posted an overall record of 147-69 while earning two conference and four sectional championships.