Courtesy of Utah State Athletics
LOGAN, Utah – Jerrod Calhoun, who led Youngstown State to consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in program history and has seven 20-win campaigns overall, has been named the 22nd head men’s basketball coach at Utah State University, it was announced by Vice President and Director of Athletics Diana Sabau on Saturday.
“Jerrod Calhoun embodies all the qualities we are looking for as the next leader of our men’s basketball program,” said Sabau. “He is energetic, enthusiastic, a player’s coach and is motivated to keep our current student-athletes in Logan. He is a formidable recruiter, an exceptional motivator, and has a keen understanding of the competitive nature of NIL and will be a great partner in growing the Blue A Collective.”
Calhoun spent the last seven seasons (2018-24) as the head coach at Youngstown State, where he logged a 118-106 (.527) record. During his last two years at YSU, his teams posted a 46-20 (.697) record, which included a 29-11 (.725) league mark, as the Penguins posted consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in their Division I history.
During his time at Youngstown State, Calhoun led the Penguins to the 2023 Horizon League regular season championship and three postseason appearances, including the 2023 National Invitation Tournament.
Calhoun also served as the head coach at Fairmont State for five seasons (2013-17), leading the Fighting Falcons to a 124-38 (.765) record and four appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament, including a national runner-up finish in 2017.
“I am honored that Diana and President (Elizabeth) Cantwell have entrusted me with the privilege of leading the storied Aggie program,” said Calhoun. “I could not be more excited about the opportunity to work alongside them. I look forward to making Aggie Nation proud of our program, both on and off the court, and competing for championships on an annual basis. Sarah, Jordan, Kendall, Kennedy, Quinn and I are eager to put down roots in Logan and get to work.”
During his time at Youngstown State, Calhoun led the Penguins to five-straight winning seasons for the first time in their Division I era (since 1981-82) after posting a 22-10 mark in 2023-24. During his last three years, the Penguins won a Horizon League-best 41 conference games and a league-high 65 games overall. YSU also won 41 home games over the last three years, including a Division I school record 14 games in each of its last two seasons.
“Utah State is getting an excellent head coach and person in Jerrod Calhoun, who embodies our university values and our mission of excellence,” Utah State University President Elizabeth Cantwell said. “Hiring Jerrod shows our commitment to our student-athletes and the Aggie basketball program.”
Calhoun coached 12 all-Horizon League selections in his seven seasons at Youngstown State, including eight in the last three years. He was also the first coach in Youngstown State’s Division I history to take the program to multiple postseasons as it participated in the 2023 National Invitation Tournament and the 2022 Basketball Classic, along with qualifying for the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
Along with posting a 22-10 record during the 2023-24 campaign, Calhoun also guided the Penguins to a 14-6 Horizon League record and a second-place finish. Youngstown State averaged 81.2 points per game and allowed just 70.9, both of which ranked second in the conference. The Penguins also made 282 3-pointers to rank as the second-most in school history.
Calhoun was the first coach in program history to lead Youngstown State to a regular-season conference title after guiding the Penguins to a 24-10 record and a 15-5 league mark en route to the Horizon League Championship in 2022-23. The 24 wins tied the program record for victories and the 15 Horizon League wins set the record for conference victories.
The Penguins’ 24 wins were their most since 1963-64, while its 14 home wins were a Division I school record.
For his efforts, Calhoun was named the 2023 Horizon League Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 12 Coach of the Year.
In 2021-22, Youngstown State’s 19 wins were its most since 2000-01 and its 12 Horizon League wins were a school record. YSU also tied the then-Division I record for most home wins with 13 and 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-ever postseason game with a 70-65 victory over Morgan State.
In 2020-21, Calhoun led the Penguins to its second straight winning season by posting a 15-12 overall record. It marked the first consecutive winnings season since the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.
In 2019-20, Calhoun guided the Penguins to one of the most historic seasons in the program’s Division I history. Youngstown State finished the year with an overall record of 18-15 and placed fourth in the Horizon League with a 10-8 league mark. The Penguins’ 18 wins were the most since 2012-13 and tied for the fourth most in YSU’s Division I era, while their 10 league wins tied a school record for most wins in Horizon League play. Furthermore, YSU’s 17 regular season wins were the most since 2000-01 and the most since joining the Horizon League.
For just the second time in program history, the Penguins accepted a Division I postseason berth to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the tournament was canceled.
In 2018-19, Calhoun guided the Penguins to a four-win improvement from his inaugural season and posted the second-most wins in Horizon League play since joining the conference in 2001-02. The Penguins also set the school record for most 3-pointers made in a season with 303.
During his first season with Youngstown State in 2017-18, the Penguins set a school record with 266 steals, breaking the 27-year-old record of 255 set in 1990-91. Calhoun also guided the Penguins to their first 3-0 start in Horizon League play since the Penguins joined the league in 2001-02.
Prior to coming to Youngstown State, Calhoun, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, spent five seasons as the head coach at Fairmont State and accumulated an overall record of 124-38 (.765). He guided FSU to the NCAA Division II Tournament in each of his last three years and four times overall. The Falcons won at least 20 games in each of his five seasons and won nearly 80 percent of their conference games.
The 2017 Mountain East Conference Coach of the Year, Calhoun directed the Fighting Falcons to an overall record of 34-3 and the program’s first national runner-up finish in 2016-17. Fairmont State won its first conference championship in 21 years with a 21-1 record and received its first NCAA Division II No. 1 ranking since 1976. The program also won 30 or more games for the first time since 1974-75.
In his 12 years as a head coach at two institutions, Calhoun has a 242-144 (.627) overall record.
Calhoun was a successful assistant coach at Walsh (2005-07) and at West Virginia (2008-12) under Bob Huggins. He spent four years at WVU as the director of basketball operations before serving as an assistant coach in 2011-12.
The Mountaineers went 19-14 during Calhoun’s last season and advanced to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. During his five years in Morgantown, the Mountaineers posted an overall record of 120-36 with five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2010 Final Four and the 2008 Sweet 16.
At Walsh, the Cavaliers posted an 82-21 record during his three seasons in North Canton, Ohio. Walsh won the 2005 NAIA National Championship, while advancing to the Elite Eight in 2006 and the Sweet 16 in 2007.
Calhoun, a 2004 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, began his coaching career at Cincinnati in 2003-04, where he served as a student assistant under Huggins. That year, the Bearcats were 25-7 overall and advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
Calhoun played two years of college basketball at Cleveland State for Rollie Massimino and was a member of the Dean’s List as well as the Student-Athlete Advisory Board.
He earned four letters at Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland and averaged 19.0 points per game his senior year. He graduated as the school-record holder for free-throw percentage and was tabbed Lake County News Herald Player of the Year.
Calhoun earned his bachelor’s degree from Cincinnati, majoring in criminal justice and minoring in communications.
He is married to the former Sarah McKenna and has a son, Jordan, and three daughters, Kennedy, Kendall, and Quinn.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT JERROD CALHOUN
Jim Tressel, Youngstown State University President Emeritus & Former Head Football Coach at The Ohio State University
“Jerrod Calhoun is a first-class person that happens to be a very fine basketball coach. He is a family man first, and his wife, Sarah, will be an active partner in serving the Aggie student-athletes and the community. Coach Calhoun has made a profound impact on the YSU basketball family and the Youngstown region as a whole. Utah State and the city of Logan will be well-served by coach Calhoun and his staff. I am personally excited to watch the combination of AD Diana Sabau and coach Jerrod Calhoun as they seek excellence at Utah State. Two very fine people.”
Mike Gansey, Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager
“I have known Jerrod for a very long time, since we were in grade school, and he has always had a deep love and passion for the game of basketball. Even back then you could tell he was going to be a great head coach. He has worked his way up from Division II, to the mid-major level, and has been one of the best young coaches in college basketball the last couple years at Youngstown State. He will love his players and get the best out of them. I am so thrilled for Jerrod and his family.”
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics Head Basketball Coach
“Jerrod is a coach that I have learned from my entire career. He is a program builder and a connector of team and community. He is dedicated to building a program and a culture of success on and off the court.”
Mick Cronin, UCLA Head Men’s Basketball Coach
“Jerrod Calhoun is one of the best young coaches in the country. Utah State has hired a tireless worker who is an innovative coach and a relentless recruiter. Coach Calhoun will continue the winning tradition at Utah State and do it with a modern tempo style of play.”
Andy Kennedy, UAB Head Men’s Basketball Coach
“Utah State has a rich history of basketball success and Jerrod Calhoun will add to that success immediately. Jerrod is one of the best young coaches in our profession and he will play a style that will excite that passionate fan base.”
