Jerry Slocum Named Youngstown State's Head Men's Basketball Coach

April 12, 2005

Youngstown, Ohio -- Youngstown State University President Dr. David Sweet announced on Tuesday, April 12, the appointment of Jerry Slocum as the Penguins' 12th men's basketball coach in school history.

Slocum, who concluded a nine-year tenure at NCAA Division II Gannon University with a 179-78 record, brings 30 years of head-coaching experience with him to Youngstown State. He owns an overall mark of 580-325 having spent nine years at Geneva as well as 12 at Nyack College prior to his stint at Gannon.

YSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ron Strollo said Slocum's coaching credentials are very impressive and his passion for basketball is unmatched.

"Coach Jerry Slocum has had a tremendous coaching career and obviously, we are very excited for him to join our YSU family," Strollo said. "He has the vision to move our program forward in the Horizon League where we can become very competitive on an annual basis."

Slocum's teams have been more than competitive during his career as a head coach. In his 30 seasons, he has had 25 winning seasons, including the last 17 campaigns. He has posted 19 20-win seasons throughout his career, including five of the last six years.

In 2004-05, Gannon finished 18-11 overall and tied Wayne State for second place in the competitive South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with an 11-6 mark.

The Golden Knights finished first or second in the South Division of the GLIAC in each of his nine years.

In 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02 his squad tied for the South Division title. In 2001-02, Gannon had a 12-5 conference record while in 2000-01, the Golden Knights were 13-4. In 2001, Gannon advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game for the first time in school history losing to Grand Valley State.

The 53-year-old Slocum was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year following the 1999-2000 campaign after leading the Golden Knights to a 16-3 league record. That season his team posted a 23-5 mark setting his personal best at the school for wins in a season and winning percentage (.821).

In each of the past six seasons, Gannon has been selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

At Geneva, he was a consistent winner posting 20-win campaigns in his final eight seasons with the Golden Tornadoes. He helped the program make four NAIA Division I Tournament appearances during his tenure. The first came in 1989-90, which was the first time Geneva had qualified for the postseason event since 1956.

In his final year at Geneva in 1995-96, the Golden Tornadoes finished 24-7 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament. The previous year, Geneva was 26-6 and won a first-round game in the NAIA Tournament. The win marked the school's first in the postseason tournament since 1956.

Slocum's head-coaching experience began at Nyack College in Nyack, N.Y., from 1975 through 1987. He spent 12 seasons in charge of the Warriors' program finishing with a 199-166 overall record. He ended his tenure strong with six 20-win seasons in his final six seasons. His best campaign was a 25-8 mark in 1984-85.

Slocum is a 1975 graduate of The Kings, N.Y., College where he earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education. He earned a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration from the United States Sports Academy in 1987. Jerry and his wife Kim, have a son, Aaron, and a daughter, Annelli.