Meredith Baugher

    Northeastern Ohio native and former Valparaiso assistant coach Meredith Baugher is in her first season as an assistant women's basketball coach at Youngstown State.
    Baugher (pronounced BAW-ker) spent the last seven seasons at Valpo as both a player and a coach. A Berea, Ohio, native, Baugher is the third member of Martin's coaching staff to have roots in the Buckeye State and the second with Horizon League ties.
    "I am ecstatic to add someone with Meredith's credentials to our coaching staff," Martin said. "She will make a huge impact with her coaching and recruiting experience in the Horizon League. Over the last three years, she has proven herself as a recruiter in the Midwest region, and her Ohio ties will be a great asset."
    Baugher helped lead Valpo through a long stretch of success during her seven seasons. While she was a player from 2001-05, the Crusaders made two NCAA Tournament appearances, qualified for the quarterfinals of the Women's National Invitational Tournament, won two Mid-Continent Conference tournament titles and one regular-season crown.
    Prior to the the 2007-08 season when Valpo joined the Horizon League, Baugher was named the team's recruiting coordinator in addition to her duties of coaching the post players and assisting in scouting. In her second season on the bench, the Crusaders posted a 20-11 record in its final year in the Mid-Con. Baugher helped with film exchange, produced publications for coaches and alumni and assisted in recruiting during her first year.
    A three-time Mid-Con All-Academic Team honoree, Baugher also helped Valparaiso to the 24th-best team grade-point average out of all Division I teams in the country last season. The Crusaders have been ranked in the top-25 in each of the last 10 seasons - seven of them with Baugher.
    Baugher earned bachelor's degrees in public relations and French from Valparaiso in 2005 and a master's in sports administration from the university in 2008.