Jason Koehler promoted to Phantoms GM

July 3, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

youngstown

The Youngstown Phantoms have promoted Jason Koehler to general manager.

Koehler has served as the assistant general manager and director of player personnel since the 2009-10 season. His first task will be replacing former head coach Anthony Noreen, who was named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs ECHL affiliate, the Orland Solar Bears.

“I’m excited for this, but really, nothing changes from what we’ve done before,” Koehler said. “Our hockey operations staff is one of the best I’ve ever worked with in my entire career. The next step is to find an outstanding head coach. We have an excellent roster and group of players, we just need someone to lead them.”

Koehler will be involved in all aspects of the Phantoms day-to-day hockey operations, including player personnel matters such as scouting, recruiting, drafts, trades, and the Phantoms tryout camp.

“I’ve been fortunate to be with this organization since its USHL inception, and I’m very thankful to the Loney family and Bruce Zoldan for the opportunity here,” Koehler added.

YSU volleyball team announces ‘15 schedule

Youngstown State volleyball coach Mark Hardaway announced the Penguins’ schedule for the upcoming season, which will be his fourth season on campus.

The Penguins will open the season on Aug. 28 at the Toledo Rocket Invitational, which will be the first of four non-conference road tournaments over the first four weeks of the season. YSU will host 10 teams at Beeghly Center in 2015, and the home opener will be Sept. 1 against Saint Francis U. YSU will begin the Horizon League portion of its schedule at Beeghly against Green Bay on Sept. 24, and the Horizon League Tournament will start on Nov. 20.

YSU enters 2015 coming off its best season in 15 years, and it has posted three straight winning seasons under Hardaway. Horizon League Setter of the Year Val Jeffery returns for her junior year to run the offense, and she’ll be joined in the leadership role by four experienced seniors. Libero Nikki Thompson is back after setting the school record for digs in a season, and Aly Ryan returns as one of the conference’s top blockers. Defensive specialist Jessie Gerig and right-side hitter Lauren Thompson are the other two seniors.

Cardinals fire scouting director amid scandal

ST. LOUIS

The St. Louis Cardinals say they have fired scouting director Chris Correa.

The Cardinals declined to say why, but the team is the subject of an FBI investigation into the hacking of the Houston Astros player personnel database. The Cardinals are also investigating and Correa’s firing is the first known fallout.

Last month, an attorney hired by the team said chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak were not targets of the investigation.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow led the Cardinals’ data-based scouting system before leaving for Houston after the 2011 season. Correa was promoted to director of amateur scouting during the offseason.

Bradley replaces Dempsey as US captain

CHICAGO

Michael Bradley will be the U.S. captain for the CONCACAF Gold Cup rather than Clint Dempsey.

Dempsey took over as the American captain from Carlos Bocanegra two years ago. He was suspended for three games by Major League Soccer for a confrontation with a referee June 16 in Seattle’s fourth-round loss to Portland in the U.S. Open Cup, when he grabbed a notebook from the official and tore it after a teammate was given a red card. He also was suspended for six U.S. Open Cup matches.

“For the time being we thought it’s the best thing to give the captaincy to Michael Bradley and let Clint focus on what he’s all about,” U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in comments posted Wednesday on the U.S. Soccer Federation’s website. “Clint is about scoring goals.”

Staff/wire report