Youngstown State Leaders Awarded Special Recognition

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The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced Youngstown State’s President James Tressel and Athletic Director Ron Strollo will receive Special Recognition Awards for their roles in reinstating men’s swimming and diving at the university. The award is a first for the organization and is, according to the CSCAA President Clark Campbell, the result of the extraordinary efforts of Strollo and Tressel.

“While we’ve seen a handful of Division I schools add men’s swimming and diving, Youngstown State is the first public university to do so this century.”  Campbell added, “our Executive Board felt it was important to recognize President Tressel and Director Strollo for such bold leadership.”

Youngstown State’s decision to add men’s swimming and diving has had a ripple effect in the sport.  “At least three Division I have expressed interest in exploring the addition of men’s teams,” explained CSCAA Executive Director, Greg Earhart.  “Youngstown State gives us a model illustrating how swimming and diving will benefit institutions competitively, fiscally, academically and economically.”

Under President Tressel’s leadership, Youngstown State has experienced growth in enrollment, retention and graduation rates.  His focus has been on student success - graduating on time, with little or no debt and with a job - through record-setting fundraising and limits on tuition increases.  Widely known for his success as the head football coach at both Youngstown State and The Ohio State University, Tressel hails from a swimming family.  His brother, Dave Tressel, was an excellent high school swimmer and has been an age-group coach for nearly 50 years, along with having served as an assistant at Baldwin Wallace University.  Ellen Tressel, his wife, swims daily at YSU’s Beeghly Natatorium and was a synchronized swimmer at YSU.

Strollo is approaching his 20th year as Youngstown State’s Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.  Strollo’s leadership has focused on successful broad-based programs and providing student-athletes with the tools to succeed on and off the fields.  In addition to men’s swimming and diving, Youngstown State added women’s bowling and lacrosse under Strollo’s leadership and increased the number of endowed scholarships from 18 to 143. 

About the CSCAA

Founded in 1922, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is the first professional association of college coaches in the United States.  The CSCAA is dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming and diving at the collegiate level. The CSCAA works to:

  • protect, promote and expand competitive intercollegiate swimming and diving programs; 

  • recognize outstanding achievements by coaches, swimmers and divers;

  • promote communication and cooperation within swimming and diving and with our partner National Governing Bodies, the NCAA, NAIA and Junior College Associations;

  • provide ongoing educational and leadership training for coaches and athletes; and

  • serve as a resource to its membership and for the general public.

Awards, Division IGreg Earhart