Barnes decides to stay put at YSU

Turns down offer from Kent State

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State won’t be in the market for a women’s basketball coach.

John Barnes, 57-40 as the Penguins’ head coach over the last three years, notified his players on Sunday morning that he had turned down an offer from Kent State and will remain at YSU.

YSU assistant sports information director John Vogel confirmed Sunday evening that Barnes will not replace the fired Danielle O’Banion at Kent State.

“He told the team this morning,” Vogel said.

Barnes reportedly had been the leading candidate to replace O’Banion as the Golden Flashes’ head coach.

O’Banion was 21-98 and 11-59 in the Mid-American Conference in four seasons at Kent State.

Kent State fired veteran women’s basketball coach Bob Lindsay in 2012 after just the third losing season in his 23 years with the Golden Flashes. Lindsay was 418-256 at Kent State.

YSU has enjoyed back-to-back 21-win seasons under Barnes, who replaced Bob Boldon when the latter left the Penguins for Ohio University after the 2012-13 season.

“Continuity is important and John has done a solid job,” YSU President Jim Tressel told WFMJ Sports on Sunday.

“Opportunities come along, but I think his goals are loftier than the most recent opportunity.”

The Penguins finished 21-13 in 2015-16, including 9-9 in the Horizon League. YSU earned a Women's Basketball Invitational bid and advanced to the semifinals before falling to Louisiana-Lafayette.