FGCU assistant named Youngstown head coach
After helping guide the FGCU women’s basketball team to a 24-7 overall record and the program’s third consecutive postseason WNIT appearance as assistant coach, Bob Boldon has resigned to accept the head coaching position at Youngstown State of the Horizon League. He ia the sixth head coach in that program’s history.
“Youngstown State made a great hire,” said FGCU women’s coach Karl Smesko. “Bob did a great job here as he did when he worked for me at previous institutions. I have been fortunate to have a couple of very good assistants in my time at FGCU. Bob will turn around the Youngstown program quickly.”
YSU went a combined 3-57 over the past two seasons. The Penguins were 3-27 in 2008-09 and 0-30 in 2009-10.
Boldon came to FGCU following a one-year head coaching stint at Lambuth University. At Lambuth, Boldon’s team won 29 games and finished as the NAIA national runner-up, losing to Union 73-63 in the national title game. The team’s 29 wins and the 29-6 record are the best in school history.
n Postseason honors: After enjoying the most successful season since joining the Atlantic Sun Conference, three FGCU women’s tennis players received postseason accolades.
The doubles team of Katharine Evans and Jessica Sweeting earned second-team All-Atlantic Sun honors, and Morgan Bechtel was named to the A-Sun All-freshman team.
Evans and Sweeting finished the season 13-5 overall and 7-3 in A-Sun matches, including an 8-3 mark at the number one doubles position. Sweeting also had a strong showing in singles play, recording an 11-5 record, 7-3 in conference play.
Bechtel led the Eagles in singles wins and conference singles victories, finishing the year at 13-5 overall and 9-1 in the A-Sun. Bechtel provided strong depth for the Eagles, tallying a 12-5 mark at the number six singles position.
Other award recipients included UNF’s Aline Berkenbrock, who was named A-Sun Player of the Year, and UNF head coach, Robrigo Puebla, who earned A-Sun Coach of the Year.