In his 20 years as part of the Youngstown State Athletic Department, Coach Ed DiGregorio built a reputation as a person who supported everything and everyone on campus and in the community.
DiGregorio was a fund raiser, a passionate speaker and a tireless promoter of YSU athletics during his years as a Penguin.
But where he made his biggest mark was on the women’s basketball program.
He took over in 1983-84 when then Athletic Director Joe Malmisur asked him to coach women’s basketball for as DiGregorio says for one year. That turned into an impressive 20-year stint where the Penguins won 319 games, had five 20-win seasons, won five consecutive conference championships, won three Mid-Con Tournament titles and appeared in three NCAA Tournaments. He finished with a record of 319-241.
DiGregorio concluded his Youngstown State coaching career this past March when he announced his retirement after 20 years on the bench. He had numerous student-athletes earn their degrees and he took just as much pride in that fact than he did with every win he ever coached.
He took over the program in 1983-84 as just the third coach in history replacing Jeff Cohen who spent one year with YSU.
After his first season, the Penguins posted a 14-13 mark for their first winning campaign in four years. Beginning with the 1987-88 season, YSU had 12 winning seasons in the next 13 years while averaging 18.8 victories per year.
In 1990-91, the Penguins finished with a 24-4 record setting a then-school record for victories in a season. YSU spent its last year as an Independent with a 19-9 mark.
Youngstown State won 11 conference games in its Mid-Con debut in 1992-93 serving notice to the league of what was to come. The Penguins won five straight Mid-Con titles from 1994-95 through 1998-99. YSU won postseason tournament titles in 1995, 1998 and 2000 making the NCAA’s each time.
In March 1998, the Penguins upset Memphis 91-80 in Raleigh, N.C., to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s second round. His 1997-98 team was his best posting a school-record 28-3 mark and a .903 winning percentage.
He coached in all three conferences in which the program has been a member -- Ohio Valley (1983-1988), Mid-Continent (1992-2001) and the Horizon League (2001-03).
Many individuals on his teams had success under DiGregorio. Thirteen players were named first-team all-conference while 10 were named to all-conference second teams. Four athletes earned the honor of being the best in the conference - Dorothy Collins (1987-88 in the Ohio Valley), Liz Grzesk (1996-97 in the Mid-Con), Shannon Beach (1997-98 in the Mid-Con) and Brianne Kenneally (1998-99 and 1999-2000 in the Mid-Con).
Of course DiGregorio reaped some accolades as well winning Mid-Con Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1995 and 1999.
A graduate of East High School, DiGregorio earned degrees from Mount Union and Westminster.
Ed and his wife Edie have five children, James, Marilyn, Cheryl, Karen and the late Edward, and seven grandchildren. Marilyn is the Department’s Coordinator of Academic Counselor.
