YSU defensive coordinator leaves

January 31, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State University football team is looking for a new defensive coordinator.

St. Petersburg, Fla., native Rick Kravitz will not return after two lackluster seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator, a source familiar with the situation confirmed Monday night.

Kravitz, who also coached linebackers his first year and safeties last fall, oversaw a unit that surrendered 25.7 points per game last season.

Opponents averaged 352.3 yards per game against the Penguins.

YSU gave up a season-high 38 points in a four-point loss to Missouri State in the regular season finale, a defeat that cost the Penguins a playoff berth. MSU scored 28 of those points in the second half.

YSU gave up 31.5 points and 411 yards per game in 2010.

The coaching website FootballScoop.com reported that the team will look outside the program for Kravitz’s replacement.

This is the second coaching change for the Penguins since the season ended. Rollen Smith, the team’s cornerbacks coach last fall, was replaced by South Florida defensive quality control coach Glenn Davis in December.

The rest of the coaches were in the YSU offices Monday, a source said.