Roseann Schwartz was the first coach in the history of the women’s golf program helping create the team in 1996. She served as the Penguins’ head coach until 2013 after guiding the Penguins to Horizon League Championships in 2003 and 2009.
YSU also had six second-place finishes and five third-place finishes in the Horizon League and Mid-Continent Conference under Schwartz’s guidance. Only twice from 1998 through 2013 did the Penguins fail to finish in the top three at the league meet.
In the 11 Horizon League campaigns under Schwartz, YSU had four conference medalists, 22 all-tournament selections and 16 all-league selections. Allison Mitzel (2013), Samantha Formeck (2009), Katie Rogner (2008) and Lori Hatcher (2003) all won league titles for the Guins during Schwartz’s tenure.
Schwartz was named the Horizon League’s Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
In Schwartz’s final season in 2013, Mitzel took home Horizon League medalist accolades while the Penguins finished in second place.
At the 2012 Horizon League Championships, the Penguins placed two golfers in the top seven. Mitzel finished fourth in her first Horizon League Championships appearance while Sarah Heimlich placed seventh.
Rogner and Formeck concluded memorable careers under Schwartz following the 2011 campaign. Roger was a four-time all-conference selection while Formeck was a three-time pick. Both golfers were named YSU Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year during their careers and each won a Horizon League title.
Formeck finished second at the 2011 Horizon League Championships capping off a career where she finished in the top three all three years.
In 2010, the Guins placed second at the Horizon League Championships as Formeck placed third while Rogner tied for fourth.
In 2009, the Penguins won the championship by an impressive 23 strokes over Cleveland State and had three of the top-five individual finishers, including champion Formeck and runner-up Brittany Stillwagon.
A tireless worker, her efforts finally paid off with the school's first-ever conference crown in 2003 - the first year of the league meet. YSU placed 10 strokes ahead of Loyola at the meet.
Schwartz watched as Hatcher won the individual championship and teammates Jennifer Grossi and Gina Abruzzino joined her in the top five to help give the Guins their title. Hatcher, Grossi and Abruzzino were named all-conference for their regular-season efforts and showed their prowess in the classroom as well being named to the league's All-Academic squad as well.
Defending that title in 2004 proved tough. The Penguins had the lead following the first two rounds, but could not overcome miserable weather conditions on the final day and faltered to third. Abruzzino placed fourth at the league meet and for her regular-season efforts was named the league's Co-Golfer of the Year.
After falling to third in 2004, Youngstown State moved up second at the 2005 Horizon League meet. Abruzzino again led the charge placing fifth. YSU had two other top 10 finishers as Felicia Ciotola placed seventh while Brittany Jones was 10th.
The Penguins remained consistent in 2006 placing second again. Jones finished fifth while newcomer Adrianna DiLonardo came in sixth. The Guins had four of the top 14 finishers in the event.
At the 2007 Horizon League Championships, despite a strong showing by several members of the Penguins team, YSU placed third. Jones had her best career Horizon League showing, placing fourth in the tournament and earning HL All-Tournament and all-conference honors.
In 2008, Schwartz was named Horizon League Coach of the Year while Rogner became YSU's first-ever women's golfer to be named Horizon League Player of the Year, as well as Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.
At the 2008 Horizon League Championships the Penguins finished in second behind Rogner who earned medalist honors at the event. No Penguin at the event finished outside the top 15.
In 2009, Schwartz was again named Horizon League Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season after the team won the Horizon League Championship. The team led after every round of the tournament and had three golfers in the top-five as Formeck, a freshman, was first, Stillwagon finished second and Rogner claimed fifth.
In addition, Formeck was named both Horizon League Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year and was also named to the All-Tournament Team and the All-Horizon Team. Both Stillwagon and Rogner joined Formeck on being named to the All-Tournament Team and Rogner also earned All-Horizon League Team honors.
Formeck's accomplishments marked the first time in consecutive seasons that a freshman Penguin took medalist honors at the league meet and was named Horizon League Player and Newcomer of the Year, after Rogner accomplished it a year prior.
Prior to the successful run in the Horizon League, Schwartz kept the program competitive in the Mid-Continent Conference (1998-2001). The program spent the 2001-02 season as an independent while moving into the Horizon League.
In the spring of 2001, the Penguins had a fine year finishing second at their final Mid-Continent Conference meet behind Oral Roberts. YSU had three competitors finish in the top 10, including Stephanie Matasek who tied for second. Matasek, Grossi and Hatcher each earned all-conference honors.
During the 2000 campaign, YSU was third at the Mid-Con meet finishing one stroke behind UMKC. YSU had three top 10 finishes as Matasek, Grossi and Sara Pickin all were second-team all-conference.
In 1998-99, the Penguins finished first at the YSU Invitational, the Lady Knight Classic and at the Gannon Invitational. At the Mid-Con meet, Youngstown State placed third led by Matasek's second-place finish. Matasek and Pickin earned all-conference honors. Matasek was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year.
Schwartz was hired by then-Athletic Director Jim Tressel to start the women's golf program on Jan. 19, 1996.
Schwartz received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Youngstown State University, and had taught at various local schools. She spent the largest part of her teaching/coaching careers in the Columbiana Village School System, retiring in 1993.
Her interest in golf began at Youngstown East High School where she competed on the boys' golf team for the Golden Bears. She continued her playing career at the University of Miami before returning the area to compete in local, state and national LPGA events. In 1991, she became a member of the LPGA and most recently became a Class A LPGA member in the Teaching and Club Professional Division.
She has been the owner and professional at nearby Whispering Pines Executive Golf Course in Columbiana since 1987, and in addition to running the golf course, teaches private and group lessons and supervises three active women's golf leagues.
Recognized for her commitment to promoting golf by receiving the National Golf Foundation Award, she was inducted into the Youngstown Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame (along with her husband, Dick) in 1987. She was one of 15 area women to earn the YWCA (of Youngstown) Women of the Year award in 2000. She has also been a lifetime member of the Ohio Education Association and the National Education Association.
Roseann and her late husband, Dick, are natives of Columbiana, Ohio. They have two sons and a daughter.
