YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Youngstown State men’s basketball coach Ethan Faulkner enters his second season with cautious optimism after guiding the Penguins to a 21-13 record and their first Horizon League Championship game appearance in 2024–25.
He credited his team’s resilience for navigating a 2-6 start and the midseason loss of leading scorer EJ Farmer, ultimately securing the program’s third consecutive 20-win season.
Looking ahead, Faulkner pointed to returning contributors like Chris Carroll and Jason Nelson, the development of redshirt players, and a diverse incoming transfer class as reasons for optimism. While acknowledging offensive struggles — particularly three-point shooting — he expects improvement in that area and plans to maintain an aggressive defensive approach.
With significant roster turnover and an evolving Horizon League landscape, Faulkner said urgency and cohesion will be key as the program looks to build on last season’s progress.
Read more in John Ostapowicz’s story HERE.