Madison Chapman / YSU Athletic Communications Youngstown State senior guard Jewel Watkins handles the ball, while being defended by redshirt junior forward Faith Burch during the Penguins’ practice on Monday at the Beeghly Center.

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s a fresh slate this season for Youngstown State.

The Penguins have a new coach, a new roster, a new style of play and even new seats in the Beeghly Center, as they began official practices on Monday in anticipation of the upcoming 2024-25 season.

“So excited to be back in the Beeghly Center,” head coach Melissa Jackson said. “Our two points of emphasis today were communication and energy, and I thought they did a really good job of bringing both. Obviously longer practices than what we’re used to in the summer, but I thought we maintained our focus and maintained our energy. So, really good first day in the books.”

With Jackson in the fold, the Penguins will enter the season with a new full-time head coach for the first time since 2013-14.

Jackson will have almost a new roster to work with, as well. After last season, YSU saw the departure of seven players due to graduation or exhausted eligibility, plus one more transferred.

She kept the majority of the large incoming freshman class signed by the previous coaching staff intact, while also signing four more players from the transfer portal to fill out the roster. Plus, YSU still had six players returning from last year’s group.

“This freshman class is really talented, and they all bring different elements to our team,” Jackson said. “We can use those individuals in different ways.”

Speaking of different ways, Jackson hasn’t been shy about the strength of her new team — versatility.

The Penguins have 12 guards and four forwards, which includes several players that can function as wings, that they can all play in a myriad of styles with a variety of different lineups.

“I think we can play a lot of different ways — we can go big, we can go small,” Jackson said. “So that’s been good to see a couple of different combinations out there (Monday) that we’ve been working on this summer.”

In contrast with the more methodical, deliberate style that relied heavily on strong post play and 3-point shooting that YSU played for the past 10 years, Jackson wants her team to play a fast-paced, up-tempo style that gets up and down the floor in hurry.

YSU spent most of the summer installing the new offensive system, which Jackson calls “very detailed, delicate and big on spacing and big on passing.”

“We all started fresh — whole new team, whole new coaching staff,” returning senior guard Haley Thierry said. “So it was nice to know that we were all on the same page. We’re all going through the same thing at the same time. So just everyone learning and being together, I think has been very helpful, and the coaches do a really good job of helping us out with that.”

Jackson’s up-tempo style suits the athletes that the team has up and down the roster.

“I definitely feel like it will be nice to get out in transition,” senior transfer guard Jewel Watkins said. “I do like to play faster. So I think it’ll be great for our team (because) we have some athletes and some very athletic and fast people on our team.”

Defensively, Jackson is keeping her cards close to the vest in terms of how the Penguins will play, but in the past she’s played man, zone, trap and press.

“Everybody’s been asking me, but I’m going to keep that one a secret for now … keep that under wraps until our first game,” Jackson said. “But I do think we’re going to play a lot of different ways defensively.”

YSU opens the 2024-25 season at home against North Dakota on Nov. 4 at the Beeghly Center.

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