Ethan Faulkner is in his second season as head coach of the men’s basketball program and his seventh season overall with the Penguins.
Faulkner, who joined the YSU staff as an assistant coach in 2019, served as the program’s associate head coach since 2022, and he was elevated to the 14th head coach in program history on April 1, 2024.
He was an integral part of the program’s first regular-season conference championship, first berth to the National Invitation Tournament, first appearance in the Horizon League Championship game, and winning 119 games over the last six seasons. Since Faulkner joined the staff, Youngstown State players have garnered All-Horizon League laurels 13 times, including 10 in the last four seasons.
Faulkner played a key role in guiding the Penguins to six straight winning seasons for the first time in YSU's Division I era (since 1981-82). Over the last four years, the Penguins have won a Horizon League-best 54 conference games and a league-high 87 games overall. During that time, YSU has also won 51 games at Beeghly Center, and has won a Division I record 14 home games in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
During his first season at the helm of the program, Faulkner guided the Penguins to their third-straight 20-win season with a 21-13 overall record. It marked the first time in program history that Youngstown State recorded at least 20 wins in three consecutive seasons.
Faulkner guided the Penguins to a 13-7 mark in Horizon League play, and he led Youngstown State to its first appearance in the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship game. Youngstown State also set a YSU Division I record with eight straight wins from Nov. 30, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
He was also named a finalists for the 2024-25 Joe B. Hall Award, which is presented annually to the top first-time head coach in Division I college basketball. The Joe B. Hall Award is named in honor of longtime Kentucky head coach Joe B. Hall who was given the task of following the legendary Adolph Rupp at the school.
The Penguins made 299 3-pointers on the season, which ranked second on the single-season list, and scored 2,599 points for an average of 76.4 points per game.
Three players earned Horizon League postseason recognition in 2024-25. EJ Farmer led the Penguins with 15.1 points per game while Nico Galette posted 12.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, and both were named to the All-Horizon League Third Team. Gabe Dynes led the nation with 104 blocks and ranked second with 3.06 blocks per game, and he was named to the Horizon League All-Defensive Team.
Faulkner helped the Penguins to their second consecutive 20-win campaign with an overall record of 22-10 in 2023-24. It marked the first time in YSU's Division I history with back-to-back 20-win campaigns. In 2022-23, Faulkner was effective in helping the Penguins to a school record-tying 24 wins and an overall record of 24-10.
During the 2023-24 campaign, Faulkner helped the Penguins to a 14-6 Horizon League record and a second-place league finish. Youngstown State scored 2,598 points on the year for an average of 81.2 points per game, which ranked second in the league. The Penguins also ranked second in the league in scoring defense allowing just 70.9 points per contest. The Penguins' 282 3-pointers in 2023-24 also ranked second in school history.
Three players garnered All-Horizon League postseason awards in 2023-24. Ziggy Reid and DJ Burns were named to the all-league second team while Brett Thompson was named to the third team. Gabe Dynes was named to the All-Freshman Team.
In 2022-23, Faulkner helped lead the Penguins to the first regular-season conference championship in program history. YSU finished with an overall record of 24-10 and a 15-5 league mark en route to the Horizon League Championship. The 24 wins tied the program record for most wins in a season and the 15 Horizon League victories also set the record for most conference wins.
He aided the Penguins to 19 wins in 2021-22, which were the most since 2000-01, and a then-school record for most conference wins with 12. That year, Youngstown State secured the program's second postseason berth in three years with an appearance in the inaugural The Basketball Classic. The Penguins also won their second postseason game with a 70-65 victory over Morgan State.
In the 2020-21 COVID-19 shortened campaign, Faulkner helped the Penguins to their second straight winning season by posting a 15-12 overall record. It marked the first consecutive winning seasons since 2011-12 and 2012-13.
During his first season in 2019-20, YSU finished with overall record of 18-15 and placed fourth in the Horizon League. The Penguins' 18 wins were the most since 2012-13 while the 10 league wins tied a school record for most wins in Horizon League play. YSU's 17 regular season wins were the most since 2000-01. The Penguins accepted a berth to the 2020 College Invitation Tournament before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
Before coming to Youngstown State, Faulkner spent the three years (2016-19) at the University of the Cumberlands, one season at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (2015-16) and one year as an assistant coach at Northern Kentucky (2014-15).
During his time at NKU, he coached an Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year and two second-team all-conference players.
As a player at NKU, Faulkner was a team captain for two years while playing in 117 games with 73 starts in his career. He currently ranks in the top 10 in all-time career assists and 11th in all-time free throw percentage.
Faulkner earned his bachelor's degree in physical and health education from Northern Kentucky in 2014.
