BEAVER TOWNSHIP — If he isn’t the busiest college president in the state of Ohio, then YSU President Jim Tressel is arguably one of the top two or three as he continues to boast the accomplishments of his school on both the national and international fronts.

Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, Tressel highlighted 20 of the top campus accomplishments since his last President’s Day appearance, noting that there is plenty happening athletically as well.

“Our men’s basketball team is playing really well right now, so this upcoming stretch is very important,” he said. “We have home games this week against Wright State and Northern Kentucky and they are the top two teams in the Horizon League. Having the chance to host is critical.

“When you host, the odds of the home team winning are extremely high. There’s plenty of excitement, the team is playing hard and it’s a playoff atmosphere.”

He also lauded the Penguins’ women’s team, relishing the opportunity this past Saturday to present a commemorative basketball to the 1999-2000 team members that went 23-8 overall, posted a 13-3 mark in the Mid-Continent Conference, won the MCC league tournament and earned an NCAA playoff berth.

“We played well this past weekend and that was a really nice win against Cleveland State,” said Tressel of this year’s team.

“It was the 20th anniversary of the 1999-2000 playoff team, and it sure was nice to see everyone. They’re all doing so well, have families and that’s nice to see. They were so proud to be out there and back on campus.”

The architect of four national championships and six Division I-AA finals appearances during his time (1986-2000) as head coach, Tressel is excited about his former graduate assistant coach, Doug Phillips, as he assumes the reins of the program.

“He’s a bundle of energy and a coach who is very aware,” Tressel said. “What I like is that he was a high school head coach, high school principal and superintendent who had to manage things.

“He’s been on some excellent coaching staffs and around winning programs. He was with Gregg Brandon at Bowling Green State, Matt Campbell at Iowa State University and Luke Fickell at the University of Cincinnati. He’s very thoughtful, will be a great listener for his staff and he’ll be closely connected with his players, the campus and entire community.”

Tressel also added that Phillips understands the demands of being a head coach.

“Doug isn’t blind to the challenge, and I think we’re in for some exciting times,” he said. “He knows that we are in the toughest FCS league, and while we lost some good players, we do have some depth. Before Bo left, he said that he felt good about his returning players and those that they had already signed.

Tressel also called attention to the Penguins’ baseball team that went 2-1 last weekend at the University of Houston, which was ranked No. 35 in the nation at the time.

“I’ve been impressed with head coach Dan Bertolini’s work ethic and it’s good to see them start the season on such a positive note,” he said. “You go down South, and it’s tough, but now you come back, you’re 2-1 and you start believing.”

He noted that YSU will once again be hosting the Horizon League’s indoor track and field championships Feb. 29-March 1 with a new tennis facility also set to open.

“Head coach Brian Gorby has 41 championships, and he has done a tremendous job,” Tressel said. “Chad Zallow just ran professionally and finished fourth overall. We’re set to open our new tennis facility, and we’re hoping it will open by the end of February, but realistically it might not open until March.

“The facility will host our men’s and women’s tennis teams, our men’s and women’s tennis clubs and play host to one of the fastest growing sports in America, pickleball. There will be a lot of hours logged in that facility.”

Tressel said the Don Costantini Multimedia Center in Stambaugh Stadium’s East side stands also has been a welcome addition.

“It completes the stadium,” Tressel said. “Don Costantini’s real passion was to have an academic and athletic facility, and it makes the whole area look so much better.”

YSU’s aggressive “We See Tomorrow Campaign,” which had an original goal of $100 million, has currently raised over $101 million, with $125 million the new goal by the completion of the campaign in June of 2021.

Next Monday, former middleweight champion of the world, Kelly Pavlik, will be the guest speaker.