After the resignation of Ryan Purdy, driven by a breakdown in salary negotiations, Youngstown State has hired former Binghamton coach Brad Smith as their new head coach.
Purdy claimed to leave the newly-coed program that him and the team were not able to “come to terms” on the details of a new contract to coach both genders after the school decided to add a men’s program to their varsity offerings.
When Smith was with the Binghamton Bearcats, he led the men’s program to a 2019 runner-up finish at the America East championships along with five individual conference champions on the women’s side. The Bearcat men also made their debut trip to the CSCAA National Invite, where they placed 23rd overall.
For the Youngstown State Penguins, former head coach Purdy led the women to a 7th place finish at the 2019 Horizon League championships. During his debut coaching season with the Penguins in 2017, he aided the women to a 7-6 winning dual meet record.
With Smith in and Purdy out, the former Binghamton coach has the opportunity to sculpt the Penguins’ newly-coed swimming program.
In the press release from Youngstown State, Smith said, “I’m thankful and excited to join Youngstown State University as the next head swimming & diving coach. It was clear to me during the interview process that Youngstown State is committed to excellence in athletics, academics, and providing their student-athletes with an exceptional experience. That is something I value and greatly respect. I’m looking forward to working with the current Penguin swimmers and divers and to helping build the program to new heights.”
Smith made just under $57,000 at Binghamton; his salary at Youngstown State was not immediately available.
Congrats Brad! Good luck in your new position!
Congratulations to Brad Smith! Growing up in Youngstown and going to YSU, I know this is a big untapped market where the interest in swimming is steadily growing. Perhaps this is an opportunity to not only grow the college program but also inspire local clubs in the Youngstown area to elevate the quality of their programs to the level of other more successful clubs in Ohio like Dayton. Best of luck! Go Penguins!
This article is more about former Coach Purdy than Coach Smith. Could we maybe get a quote from Coach Smith on his new position?? Or more about how this is a resurrected men’s program… and how the athletic department made this work??
Good luck, Coach Smith! Go Penguins!