YSU hires Poland graduate to lead baseball program

Bertolini once coached Astro

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Poland High School graduate Dan Bertolini has been named the ninth head baseball coach at Youngstown State University.

“We are excited to have someone with a winning track record like Dan’s lead our baseball program,” said Ron Strollo, YSU Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “Throughout the search process, it was clear that Coach Bertolini has incredible support locally as someone who will bring a competitive edge to our team.

“He has recruited our region for eight years and has developed relationships with high school, junior college and summer league coaches that will help him bring elite players to Youngstown State,” Strollo said Tuesday.

Bertolini comes to Youngstown after spending the past eight seasons developing the program at Mercyhurst North East into a consistent winner. The Saints averaged more than 29 wins over his eight seasons at the helm and won at least 30 games in four of the past five years.

He leaves the junior college program near Erie, Pa., as the winningest coach in school history.

“What an amazing opportunity it is to coach and impact the community that I grew up in,” Bertolini said. “The facilities at YSU are really second to none, and when you mix that with the incredible academics it really is a home run for me. This is a great opportunity for my family and me, and to get the chance to coach at the Division I level is unbelievable.”

Bertolini, a 2004 Poland graduate, got his start in coaching as an assistant for the Astro Falcons in the Youngstown Class B Summer League. He has also coached for the Ohio Glaciers.

Bertolini and his wife Breanna, who played Lacrosse at Mercyhurst, have a daughter, Eloise.