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Canfield’s Cullen joins YSU program
By JON MOFFETT
YOUNGSTOWN
Longtime Canfield High basketball coach John Cullen will be diagraming plays at a new address this fall.
The coach has accepted the position of Director of Women’s Basketball Operations at Youngstown State University. Cullen, 59, had spent the past 28 years at Canfield.
“The job description is somewhat vague, but it promises a lot of new things,” Cullen said.
Cullen has a combined 37 years of coaching experience. He will join new head coach Bob Boldon for his inaugural season with the Penguins.
“We are ecstatic to have Coach Cullen join our staff,” Boldon said in a news release. “He brings an incredible amount of basketball knowledge to our team. His connection to the local community will also be invaluable in helping to restore the winning tradition of Youngstown State women’s basketball.”
That knowledge was amassed in 32 years as a head coach, and another five as an assistant.
Cullen got his coaching start at Brookfield High, where he helped lead the team to five sectional championships, a regional title and a trip to the state semifinals in five seasons.
From there, Cullen had the position of head coach at Brookfield, Badger and Canfield high schools. He has accumulated an impressive 472 career wins.
Cullen said his impressions of Boldon sealed the deal for his acceptance.
“I love people who love the game, and you can tell [Boldon] does,” Cullen said.
Boldon and Cullen have their work cut out for them. The Penguins have a 3-57 record over the past two seasons under former head coach Cindy Martin. Martin stepped down in March, and Boldon was named head man in April.
“The biggest challenge is being a part of the turnaround,” Cullen said. “That’s not an indictment of previous coaches, but there is a young coaching staff who is ready to get started and winning.”
Winning hasn’t been an issue for Cullen. As the coach of the boys team, the Cardinals went 433-186 with 15 sectional titles, 12 league championships and five district titles. He was named the Mahoning County Coach of the Year 15 times in his 28 years.
Primarily a boys coach, Cullen said he is not afraid of the challenges of assisting a women’s team.
Coaching and teaching are pretty synonymous no matter where you are,” he said. “There may be a little difference, but I’ve always helped coach the girls programs wherever I’ve been. I won’t be uncomfortable making that switch ... Coaching is coaching.”
A retired physical education, health and integrated science teacher, Cullen will begin his duties at YSU on July 1.
Cullen said leaving Canfield was bittersweet.
“They’ve been very loyal to me and have allowed me to have some freedom,” he said of the school. “They allowed me to be successful.”