Youngstown State's basketball program dates to 1927, and the Ohio school competes in the Horizon League. The Penguins have been a steady conference competitor, representing the blue-collar city of Youngstown.
The Penguins nickname was adopted in 1933 after a player was described as "waddling like a penguin" due to the cold weather gear he wore — the unusual name stuck and became the school's identity.
Competing in the Horizon League and making occasional postseason appearances, building the program's Division I identity in the steel city.
Youngstown State may be the only Division I school with a penguin mascot — the name originated as a joke about cold Ohio winters but has become one of the most unique and beloved mascots in the sport.
The Youngstown State Penguins compete in the Horizon League and hold an all-time record of 566–792 (.417 winning percentage) across 46 recorded seasons dating back to 1947-48.
| Season | Record | Conference | Coach | AP peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 15-17 | 8-12 (Horizon) | Ethan Faulkner | |
| 2024-25 | 21-13 | 13-7 (Horizon) | Ethan Faulkner | |
| 2023-24 | 22-10 | 14-6 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2022-23 | 24-10 | 15-5 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2021-22 | 19-15 | 12-9 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2020-21 | 15-12 | 9-11 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2019-20 | 18-15 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2018-19 | 12-20 | 8-10 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2017-18 | 8-24 | 6-12 (Horizon) | Jerrod Calhoun | |
| 2016-17 | 13-21 | 5-13 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2015-16 | 11-21 | 6-12 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2014-15 | 11-21 | 2-14 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2013-14 | 15-17 | 6-10 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2012-13 | 18-16 | 7-9 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2011-12 | 16-15 | 10-8 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2010-11 | 9-21 | 2-16 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2009-10 | 8-22 | 2-16 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2008-09 | 11-19 | 7-11 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2007-08 | 9-21 | 5-13 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2006-07 | 14-17 | 7-9 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2005-06 | 7-21 | 4-12 (Horizon) | Jerry Slocum | |
| 2004-05 | 5-23 | 2-14 (Horizon) | John Robic | |
| 2003-04 | 8-20 | 4-12 (Horizon) | John Robic | |
| 2002-03 | 9-20 | 4-12 (Horizon) | John Robic | |
| 2001-02 | 5-23 | 2-14 (Horizon) | John Robic | |
| 2000-01 | 19-11 | 11-5 (Mid-Cont) | John Robic | |
| 1999-00 | 12-16 | 9-7 (Mid-Cont) | John Robic | |
| 1998-99 | 14-14 | 9-5 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1997-98 | 20-9 | 11-5 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1996-97 | 9-18 | 4-12 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1995-96 | 12-15 | 7-11 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1994-95 | 18-10 | 10-8 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1993-94 | 5-21 | 3-15 (Mid-Cont) | Dan Peters | |
| 1992-93 | 3-23 | 1-15 (Mid-Cont) | John Stroia | |
| 1991-92 | 6-22 | Ind | John Stroia | |
| 1990-91 | 12-16 | Ind | John Stroia | |
| 1989-90 | 8-20 | Ind | John Stroia | |
| 1988-89 | 5-23 | Ind | Jim Cleamons | |
| 1987-88 | 7-21 | 2-12 (OVC) | Jim Cleamons | |
| 1986-87 | 11-17 | 4-10 (OVC) | Mike Rice | |
| 1985-86 | 12-16 | 8-6 (OVC) | Mike Rice | |
| 1984-85 | 19-11 | 9-5 (OVC) | Mike Rice | |
| 1983-84 | 18-11 | 9-5 (OVC) | Mike Rice | |
| 1982-83 | 15-12 | 5-9 (OVC) | Mike Rice | |
| 1981-82 | 8-18 | 5-11 (OVC) | Dom Rosselli | |
| 1947-48 | 10-14 | Ind | Dom Rosselli |
Cleveland State Vikings · Detroit Mercy Titans · Green Bay Phoenix · IU Indianapolis Jaguars · Milwaukee Panthers · Northern Kentucky Norse · Oakland Golden Grizzlies · Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons · Robert Morris Colonials · Wright State Raiders
All Division I programs · Historical rankings · Championship journeys · Hoopsipedia home
| Rank | Team | Conference | All-Time Wins |
|---|
Top 100 by all-time D1 wins. Verified against the NCAA record book — and tiered so you can argue properly.
| # | COACH | RECORD | WIN % | SCHOOL(S) | YEARS | BEST SEASON / LEGACY |
|---|