Youngstown, OH (Sports Network) - Youngstown State has named Eric Wolford its new head football coach.

Wolford, a Youngstown native, will be a head coach for the first time. He has been an assistant, mostly on the FBS level, since 1994 and this past season was the offensive line coach and running game coordinator under Steve Spurrier at South Carolina.

"We are very excited to have Coach Wolford join the Youngstown State football family," said YSU athletic director Ron Strollo. "In all of my discussions with him, he has shown a passion to lead our football program and be an outstanding leader for our student-athletes. He has received extremely positive reviews from within the coaching ranks and members of our community. His ability to be a top-notch recruiter will help take our program to level we all can be proud of."

The 38-year-old Wolford has also been an assistant at Illinois, Arizona, North Texas, Houston, South Florida, Emporia State and Kansas State.

Youngstown State needed a replacement for Jon Heacock, who stepped down on November 22. He was 60-44 during his nine-year tenure.