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April 11, 2008
Cindy Martin, who led the IUP women's basketball team to an unprecedented three-year run, was named the head coach at Youngstown State Friday. Martin takes over a Penguin program that has not had a winning season since 1999-00 and is 73-154 over the past eight years. In 2007-08 Youngstown State went 14-17 in its fifth and final season under head coach Tisha Hill. Martin departs IUP after leading the Crimson Hawks to a three-year record of 70-23 and her winning percentage of .753 in the best in school history. A year ago IUP set a record for most wins in a season, finishing 27-5 and capturing its second consecutive PSAC West and PSAC tournament championship. Prior to last year, IUP had never won consecutive conference titles or won the PSAC championship on its home floor at Memorial Field House. The latter feat was accomplished when the Crimson Hawks rallied from a nine-point deficit to down California 67-63. The Crimson Hawks earned the No. 1 seed and the right to host the NCAA East Region tournament, but IUP was upset by Mount Olive in the opening round. The team finished the year ranked No. 23 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll after reaching as high as No. 5 earlier in the season. All of these accomplishments earned Martin the East Region Coach of the Year from the WBCA. The previous season, IUP had a record of 24-9 and defeated California 63-53 at Millersville's Pucillo Gym to win its first PSAC tournament championship since 1988. The Crimson Hawks then defeated Barton and Pitt Johnstown to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament before dropping a narrow 65-59 decision to second-ranked and host Glenville State. Martin was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year and several of her players earned conference and regional recognition. Jahzinga Tracey was selected the PSAC West Player of the Year, the MVP of the PSAC tournament and to the Daktronics All-East Region first team. In Martin's first season at the helm, IUP was 19-9 and finished second in the PSAC West after being picked to finish fifth in the preseason coaches poll. The team's record represented a 9.5-game improvement, the seventh best increase in Division II women's basketball. "I join the university community in thanking Coach Martin for her successful coaching efforts on behalf of IUP, and we wish her continued success in her new role," IUP President Dr. Tony Atwater said. A national search will get under way soon for Martin's replacement. |
