Former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has accepted the head coaching job at Youngstown State in his hometown, sources confirmed to FOX Sports Ohio and FOX Sports 1.
The official announcement is expected later Tuesday. The Youngstown Vindicator was first to report the news Tuesday morning.
Youngstown State hired former Ohio State coach Jim Tresel as university president last spring. Tressel won four Div. I-AA national championships as Youngstown State's coach from 1986-2000. The school's indoor football training facility and fieldhouse bears Tressel's name.
Pelini, who turned 47 this week, graduated from nearby Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School. He was 67-27 at Nebraska and had a contract that ran through Feb. 2019 when he was fired in late November.
Nebraska owes Pelini $1.8 million per year through Feb. 2019, but with YSU's job expected to pay $150,000 per year at most, Nebraska would owe him the difference.
Youngstown State fired Eric Wolford, also a native of the city, after the 2014 season. Wolford was 31-26 in five years, and upon firing Wolford the school announced it would conduct a national search for his replacement.
YSU is tentatively scheduled to open next season at Pitt on Sept. 5. The Penguins upset the Panthers 31-17 at Heinz Field in 2012.
Joe Reedy contributed to this story
