YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown State has made it official. Bo Pelini, a Youngstown native and Cardinal Mooney graduate, has been named head football coach.

Pelini will begin his duties on Wednesday, Dec. 17. He becomes the seventh head coach in the program's history.

"It is with great passion and enthusiasm that I become the head football coach at Youngstown State University." Pelini said. "This is an exciting time for my family and me as we return to the Mahoning Valley. Mary Pat and our children are anxious to get involved in the Youngstown State and local communities. I am looking forward to getting to know a tremendous group of football student-athletes who are currently part of the program. YSU football has a rich championship tradition and a standard of excellence which our staff and players will work to uphold both on and off of the field."

Pelini spent the past seven years as the head coach at the University of Nebraska. He posted a 67-27 record with Nebraska and guided them to four divisional titles in his tenure as head coach.

Pelini returns to his hometown with some of the most impressive credentials in all of college football.

"We are excited to have Bo Pelini as the head football coach at Youngstown State University," Strollo said. "He is a dedicated family man who wants to be part of our community and make an impact in his hometown. He has been a successful coach throughout his career and our student-athletes will have the opportunity to play for a tremendous individual. We look forward to him leading our program and welcome him and Mary Pat home."

Pelini was a team captain and four-year letterman as a safety at Ohio State from 1987 to 1990. After earning his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Ohio State in 1990, Pelini completed his master's degree in sports administration at Ohio University in 1992.

He and his wife, Mary Pat, have three children, a son, Patrick, and two daughters, Kate and Caralyn.

A formal press conference is scheduled for Wednesday.