Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU acting head coach John Nicolais speaks to guard Malia Magestro during the Penguins’ game against Robert Morris on Jan. 12 last season.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State women’s basketball team is ‘moving forward’ and operating business as usual in the wake of head coach John Barnes’ decision to take a leave of absence.

Barnes is attending to a “personal family matter,” and while he’s away from the team, associate head coach John Nicolais will serve as acting head coach until Barnes returns.

“We just want to move forward and the team knows that we have objectives and things we need to get covered,” Nicolais said as he was introduced during a press conference Tuesday morning. “They’re pretty focused and want to do things the right way, so we’re trying to move forward as best as we can.”

Penguins athletic director Ron Strollo said Tuesday that there’s no timetable for Barnes’ absence or any clear indication as to when he might return.

“He needs to do what’s best for his family and for himself, and we need to take care of the student-athletes,” Strollo said. “(There’s) no expectations. It puts undue pressure on everyone, but we’re going to move forward as if this is long term, but that could change at any point.”

Nicolais has been a part of Barnes’ staff for the entirety of his tenure at YSU. Both Barnes and Nicolais are heading into their 11th year with the Penguins’ program.

Strollo noted that Nicolais’ familiarity with the program and with the players made him the ideal option to provide continuity and lead the team in Barnes’ absence.

“It starts with the culture that Coach Barnes and his staff have developed. We’re in a position here with women’s basketball to turn it over to Coach Nicolais, who’s been here from the start,” Strollo said. “We’re fortunate to have him here. … There’s a lot of stability around the program. I think that consistency really helps.”

Nicolais said being a part of Barnes’ staff the past 10 years has prepared him to step into the head coaching role.

“(Barnes) has done a great job of allowing me to have a lot of input on things,” Nicolais said. “So I feel like I’m just moving over and it’s nice that I’ve been with him as long as I have. I feel like we can keep it streamlined and not upset things as far as drastic changes that would occur with the team so we can keep moving forward.”

Upon learning of Barnes’ decision on Monday morning, Nicolais described his and the team’s reaction as one of “shock and disbelief.” He said the team had a light day and didn’t have a formal practice, but that they would move forward with their normal schedule the rest of this week, as they continue to prepare for the season opener on Nov. 8 against Xavier at the Beeghly Center.

There won’t be any significant changes with how the team looks, operates and plays, according to Nicolais.

“It’ll look very similar,” he said. “We’re not trying to reinvent anything. So I think that will bode well for the team to just transition and make it smooth.”

With regards to experience and leadership on the team, it helps that the Penguins are returning a combined eight seniors and fifth-year players this season.

“I think that will allow this to be pretty seamless,” Nicolais said. “We’ve talked to the senior class, and I’ve talked to them. They understand what the issue is, and we’ve asked them to step up in their role a little bit more than what we have in the past.”

YSU is short one assistant coach, with the current staff consisting of Nicolais, assistant coach Malika Glover, director of women’s basketball player personnel Jason Pacanowski and graduate assistant Brice Margenthaler.

Recent NCAA rule changes increased the number of full-time coaches that Division I programs could have on staff. Before Barnes took his leave, Nicolais said he and Barnes had made a hire, but the move can’t become official until some HR paperwork is finalized.

“We’ve got somebody in mind. … We’re just making sure everything’s good to go there,” Nicolais said. “We should have somebody in place in a week or so.”

nmadhavan@tribtoday.com