Wolford decision may come Monday

November 24, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State University could decide head football coach Eric Wolford’s fate today.

According to FootballScoop.com, YSU officials will meet this afternoon before making a decision on whether to keep Wolford or make a coaching change.

YSU athletic director Ron Strollo did not comment on Sunday other than to confirm that no decision has been made and that nothing would be announced on Sunday.

Wolford’s team has come within one win of making the postseason in each of the last four years, but has finished the last two seasons with three-game losing streaks. In both years, YSU was blown out in the season finale, with the Penguins losing 42-13 to South Dakota State in 2013 and 38-14 to North Dakota State on Saturday.

Wolford is 31-26 overall, but is 18-22 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The 10-team league advanced five teams to the playoffs on Sunday, including Indiana State (7-5, 4-4), which had the same record as YSU.

This season was the last on Wolford’s original five-year contract, but he signed a one-year extension just days before this year’s season opener.

YSU can buy out the final year of Wolford’s contract for $150,000. If Wolford coaches elsewhere in 2015, that buyout would be offset by whatever he makes in his new job.

However, there is no guarantee Wolford will take another job, which could prompt the cash-strapped university to keep him through next year.