NICK YOURKOVICH

CADIZ — There’s a new boys’ basketball coach at Harrison Central. But he’s not new to anything related to the Huskies.

Nick Yourkovich, 46, was recently named to succeed Aaron Foldi who took a position with Franciscan University’s men’s program. The Martins Ferry graduate will continue in his role as an assistant high school principal.

“My interest in basketball never left,” Yourkovich stressed. “I’ve been coaching in some aspect for 20 years. When this position opened up, I decided to throw my hat into the ring and see what happened.

“If I got it, I got it and it was great,” he added. “If I didn’t (get it) I’d be okay with it. I’m set here professionally without it.”

Why now?

“My love for the game is still there and my love of being around the kids is still there,” he said. “I figured I’d better do it now while I’m still young enough.

Yourkovich had a very successful run as the Harrison Central girls coach for 13 seasons. His Huskies won a pair of Ohio Division III sectional championships and made the district semifinals both seasons. His teams also won back-to-back OVAC Championships in 2013-14 and 2014-15. He was voted the Associated Press Ohio Eastern District Division III Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2021 and the District V Coach of the Year in 2014. He served as head coach of the OVAC All Stars in 2015.

Yourkovich started his coaching career with a two-year stint as an assistant girls coach at his alma mater before serving as head boys coach at St. John Central for another two seasons. He said going from coaching girls to coaching boys shouldn’t be much different.

“I don’t think there is much of an adjustment. I think your relationships with the kids will be the same,” he noted. “On the basketball side of it, basketball is basketball. How you convey messages might be a little different. My approach has always been that kids can be coached tough. Once they know you are on their side, they will respond to you.”

As far as the transition, he said it should be smooth sailing.

“I see the boys a lot being in the hallways,” he added. “Now I’m just trying to get to know them better, athletically and more at a personal level. With me being in the building and being in the position I am, that will give me a leg up.”

Youskovich said he has already met with the team and everyone is excited to get the summer schedule started.

“We had about 24 kids at the meeting,” he recalled. “That’s an alright number for now.”

He said he has talked with a couple of individuals about serving as part of his staff, but it is still too early for any decisions to be made concerning a staff.

“Ideally, I’d like to have three varsity assistants.”

When asked who he would like to thank for this opportunity, he didn’t hesitate in relying, “First of all, my wife, Krystal. In order for anyone who is married to do this (coaching), you have to have a special person to allow you to do it, so my wife was a big part of this decision. We had a lot of conversations before I finally decided to let our administration know I was really interested.

“I would also like to thank the Harrison Hills School District and board of education for trusting me to be able to handle both positions. That means a great deal to me, as well.”