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YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown State executive director of athletics Ron Strollo admitted it was rather easy to hire the predecessor for former football coach Jim Tressel.

Tressel sternly suggested that YSU hire Jon Heacock, who was the Penguins' defensive coordinator under Tressel, as its next coach when he left for Ohio State in 2001. Heacock resigned Sunday following a nine-year tenure that included one playoff appearance, and Strollo has a much more difficult task as he searches for someone to return YSU to prominence.

''It's no secret what the expectations are here, and that's postseason play,'' he said.

The person who will attempt to take the program back to the level it achieved during the 1990s, when Tressel led the Penguins to four national championships, is a mystery. Strollo said a search will begin immediately, but he did not reveal any possible candidates. Strollo said the ideal applicant will possess experience - not necessarily as a head coach - at a Division I school and who's able to attract top-of-the-line players to Youngstown.

''We're looking for someone with high energy and someone who can bring Division I experience with a national recruiting background,'' Strollo said. ''To compete at the level that we need to compete at, recruiting is going to be critical.''

The hiring process is going to be quite different for Strollo, who said this is the biggest hire of his tenure. Part of what makes it difficult is that the season isn't over for many college football teams, and thus will be hesitant to speak to other organizations. Strollo understands that and said while he wants to make a decision as soon as possible, he won't rush it if a favorite doesn't surface. Another interesting aspect, he said, is the type of people he speaks with leading up to the interviews.

''This job is going to sought after by some high-quality candidates,'' Strollo said. ''When you deal with high-quality candidates, you're not dealing with the coaches, you're dealing with the agents, and that's kind of different. That's what's different about this type of search. Some of those guys are still coaching, and they're going to want their agents to get a sense of where their chances are and what our level of interest is.''

A search committee to find a successor has not yet been formed, but Strollo said that will take place in the coming days. From there, Strollo will narrow the list and then conduct interviews. He added that a specific timetable has not been set, but that hiring someone before Christmas would be ideal.

He also said he will seek the advice of Tressel, now coaching the Ohio State Buckeyes, during this process in hopes to make the best decision possible.

''I had a discussion with coach Tressel (Sunday) after I found out that Jon ultimately was going to make this decision,'' Strollo said. ''The role that he said he wouldn't mind playing is that when you do get to the final group, and you want his opinion or anything like that, he would give it.

''I'm going to seek as much advice from as many people as I know.''

Tressel is the main reason why the job will be attractive to so many coaches. His run during the '90s was unprecedented at the Division I-AA level. The four titles and his blue-collar way of coaching caused him to become an icon in the area. It also made Youngstown State a hotbed for some of the most talented players in the Football Championship Subdivision, which was formerly called Division I-AA.

''The step that coach Tressel has made has really enhanced the interest in this program because he was able to be a successful coach at Youngstown State and was able to take a major step at a job at Ohio State,'' Strollo said. ''I think that because he made that transition, it makes this job that much more appealing.''

With numerous big names likely to apply, Strollo said finding the right ''fit'' will be imperative. He spoke about finding a coach who will not only create a winning team but also who betters the lives of the players.

''There are going to be a lot of good coaches that are interested in this position,'' Strollo said. ''And sometimes, you could be a good coach, and you can bring them into a good situation, and for some reason things just don't work out. It's really trying to figure out if this person is a good fit here.''

Making a quick decision is somewhat important because national signing day is in February. Since that is just a few months away, Strollo said he already has some people in mind, though he would not say names.

''That's why the timeline needs to be quick because you need two or three weeks to bring recruits to the campus and sell this new program,'' he said. ''It's part of my job to know who the quality coaches are out there and who are some people you may want to have lead your program.''

One prime reason why this decision is so crucial is because football affects nearly every other sport at YSU. The income accumulated by the team helps fund several parts of the university, and the other athletic programs profit from large crowds at Stambaugh Stadium.

''Our baseball runs the concession stands, our track team is running up and down the steps selling pop and doing those things, and our softball program really relies on the fundraising efforts of those games to fund their spring trips,'' he said. ''It not only affects the scholarships, but it also affects other programs.''

jsimon@tribtoday.com