Long-time Canfield High School boys basketball coach John Cullen served as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations at Youngstown State for all three seasons of head coach Bob Boldon's tenure.
Cullen joined the collegiate ranks for the first time after coaching high school basketball for 37 years in the Youngstown area. He amassed 472 victories in his 32 seasons as a high school head coach.
"We are ecstatic to have Coach Cullen as part of our staff," head coach Bob Boldon said. "He brings an incredible amount of basketball knowledge to our team. His connection to the local community will also be invaluable in helping to restore the winning tradition of Youngstown State women's basketball."
In addition to his duties as director of operations, Cullen served as an assistant coach for the second half of the 2011-12 season when a position was vacated on the staff.
Cullen spent 28 seasons as the Head Boys' Basketball Coach at Canfield High School, leading the Cardinals to a 433-186 record. In his tenure on the bench, Canfield won 15 sectional titles, 12 league championships and five district titles. He was named the Mahoning County Coach of the Year 15 times in his 28 years.
Prior to his successful stay at Canfield, Cullen also coached three seasons at Brookfield High and one year at Badger High. He led Brookfield to a 38-18 record and three sectional championships. Cullen got his coaching start as an assistant at Brookfield, helping the Warriors to five sectional championships, a regional title and a berth in the state semifinals over five years.
Cullen also spent four seasons coaching in the Amateur Athletic Union. His squads qualified for the AAU national tournament three times.
In the classroom as a high school teacher, Cullen taught physical education, health and integrated science.
Cullen graduated with his bachelor's in education from Kent State in 1973. He earned a master's in secondary administration from Youngstown State in 2005.
Cullen and his wife, Roseann, reside in Boardman, Ohio.
