Changes keep YSU staff hustling

By Greg Gulas | February 15, 2011 at 12:01a.m.

BOARDMAN

On Valentine’s Day, it was only fitting that the “heart” of the academic advising center for YSU athletics provide a classroom update on the Penguins’ 18 men’s and women’s teams.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center, Marilyn O’Bruba, senior athletic academic adviser, said the athletes continue to leave their mark in the classroom, and teams have exceeded the academic challenges mandated by the NCAA.

“The NCAA rules have really changed over the years in regards to matriculation and eligibility requirements so our staff has to be on top of things almost 24/7,” O’Bruba said.

“Students have more constraints than their predecessors and incoming freshmen must be advised better by their high school counselors in order to meet initial NCAA eligibility requirements,” O’Bruba said.

In her 23rd year at YSU, the daughter of former YSU women’s basketball coach Ed DiGregorio oversees the progress of the football and men’s and women’s basketball programs, while her staff monitors every men’s and women’s sport.

Her staff includes Terry Samuels and Marty Hayden, who have both been with the program for 17 years, and Susan Carfolo, 13 years.

Samuels oversees the baseball, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s golf and women’s swimming and diving programs, while Carfolo is in charge of the men’s and women’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams, soccer, volleyball and women’s golf programs.

Hyden coordinates the grade reports and serves as a liason with the faculty.

“We’re a mini-family that works really well together, simply because we have been together for so long,” said O’Bruba. “While we have all been assigned specific sports that we oversee, we also work with athletes assigned to another adviser if the need arises.

“The big thing is that we want all of our athletes and coaches to be aware of the many helpful resources available to all students, not just our athletes, across campus,” she added.

Of the 326 athletes competing during the fall semester, 180 achieved a 3.00 or better grade-point average, and 176 athletes maintain a cumulative 3.00 or better GPA.

The average team cumulative grade point average is 3.03 and 13 athletes have 4.0 GPAs.