SPORTS DIGEST || Titans hire LeBeau as assistant HC for defense

Titans hire LeBeau as assistant HC for defense

The Tennessee Titans have hired Dick LeBeau as their assistant head coach in charge of defense, pairing the Hall of Fame player and veteran coach with Ray Horton.

The Titans announced the hiring Thursday. Mike Mularkey also has been promoted to assistant head coach in addition to coaching tight ends, and Jason Tucker has been hired as an assistant wide receivers coach.

Both Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt and his defensive coordinator Horton worked with LeBeau in Pittsburgh with four other Titans assistants either having coached with or played for LeBeau. The veteran coach has 18 seasons of experience with Horton and three with Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt says this was a unique opportunity to add a proven commodity and great teacher. He says he is looking forward to working with LeBeau again.

OSU RB coach leaves for job with Bears

Ohio State running backs coach Stan Drayton reached an agreement Thursday to take the same position on the staff of new Chicago Bears coach John Fox.

Also the assistant head coach-offense for the past two seasons, Drayton spent the past four years at Ohio State, working with receivers in 2011.

Penguins softball opens with invitational

The Youngstown State softball team opens the 2015 season with four games this weekend at the Campbell/Hampton Inn Invitational in Buies Creek, N.C.

The Penguins take on Maryland-Eastern Shore at 9 a.m. and St. John’s at 11 a.m. on Friday. On Saturday, YSU faces East Tennessee State at 8:30 a.m. and Towson at 10:30 a.m.

YSU swimming and diving to honor seniors

The Youngstown State swimming and diving team closes out the dual meet portion of their schedule on Friday against Bowling Green at the Beeghly Natatorium.

The meet is the final home event for seniors Ashley Dow, Chelsea Malone and Casey Cullen. Prior to the meet, the seniors will be honored for their YSU careers.

Dow has been one of the most successful divers in the Penguins’ Horizon League and Division I tenure. Malone has competed in the sprint freestyle and backstroke while being a key part of the YSU relay teams. Cullen has battled injuries during her YSU career but has been a key member of the program since her arrival in 2011.

Penguins to host three matches in three days

The Youngstown State women’s tennis team will be in action twice on Friday and again Sunday morning at the Boardman Tennis Center.

The Penguins take on Saint Francis (Pa.) and St. Bonaventure on Friday and host NJIT on Sunday morning. The matches on Friday are scheduled for 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday’s dual against NJIT will begin at 8:30 a.m. The Penguins enter the three matches with a 2-3 record.

YSU women’s soccer adds seven during NSD

Seven recruits have signed national letters of intent to join the Youngstown State women’s soccer program, head coach Will Lemke announced.

The Penguins signed goalkeeper Elizabeth Balgoyen (Spotsylvania, Va.), midfielder Samantha Bidinger (Grafenwoehr, Germany), midfielder/defender Cindy Christ (Germany), forward Chauntel Houk (Broadview Heights, Ohio), midfielder Madison Hughes (Howell, Michigan), defender Sophia Mancini (Canfield, Ohio) and midfielder Paige Thompson (Chesterfield, Mich.).

Mandatory state track and field rules meeting

The Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association will have a mandatory track and field state rules meeting on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Fitch High School.

All coaches and officials must attend a state rules meeting every year.

The OHSAA will have a limited number of starter shells available for $25, limit 5 per person.

Wire/Staff report