BEAVER TOWNSHIP — For the past 23 years, Robb Schmidt has sat in his familiar courtside seat serving as the eyes and ears of his listening audience as he broadcasts Youngstown State University’s men’s basketball games.

With 698 games safely tucked away in his memory bank, his 699th behind the microphone will take place tomorrow night when the Penguins play host to Purdue Fort Wayne at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

His milestone 700th contest is set to air Sunday afternoon when the team travels to Cleveland State to take on the Vikings, both pivotal Horizon League contests as the regular season draws to a close and tournament fever takes over.

“I truly am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to broadcast YSU men’s basketball for the past three decades,” Schmidt told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “I have had a chance to call games from all over the country, meeting many outstanding individuals along the way. The best part has been getting to know the coaches and players while maintaining those friendships.”

Schmidt called games under four Penguin head coaches, starting with John Robic during his first season (2002-03) at the mic, followed by Jerry Slocum (2006-17), Jerrod Calhoun (2018-24) and currently for Ethan Faulkner, who is 16-10 overall in his first season at the helm and has the Penguins (10-5) tied with Robert Morris for third-place in the conference standings with five regular season games remaining.

“Coach Faulkner is the fourth head coach that I have worked with at YSU and I have learned quite a bit from each of them,” Schmidt said. “For him to step into a program that had back to back 20-win seasons yet maintain that level of success as a first-time head coach is remarkable. The team has improved throughout the season and has shown a great deal of resiliency. I am looking forward to the remainder of the regular season and, of course, the upcoming Horizon League Tournament.”

You do not broadcast almost 700 games without a handful on instant recall, and Schmidt has those contests readily available, along with players who have made his 23 seasons courtside so memorable.

“It’s fun to have played a small role in some of the more amazing games that have been played in the Valley, especially at YSU,” Schmidt said. “Games of more recent vintage include Juwan Maxey’s game-winning 3-pointer against Wright State last month, which capped an 18-point deficit and comeback win. That was an instant classic for me and is already one of my favorites. Winning the 2022-23 Horizon League regular season championship at IUPUI on Feb. 25, 2023, also brings back memories, while Cam Morse’s pass to Jordan Kaufman for the game-winning layup versus Oakland in the Horizon League tournament [March 4, 2017] is another pleasant memory.

“Beginning the 2012-13 season with wins at George Washington and then at Georgia also stands out, while some of the top players creating those memories include Kendrick Perry, who will be inducted into the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Quin Humphrey, Dwayne Cohill and Bobby Hain, to name a few.”

Schmidt is one of 12 members set for enshrinement in this year’s Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame class, set for May 4 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center.

He will be the 10th sports media member to be honored by the Curbstone Coaches.

“I am humbled and honored to have been selected for induction in the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame,” he said. “It is a great honor and there are so many people to thank. To think that I wanted to be a broadcaster since I was 12 years old and now having been able to do this for 38 years is crazy. The best part has been being able to do so alongside my father, Karl, who has served as my football statistician since 1988, which is even crazier.”

Schmidt also serves as an associate athletic director at YSU, working in the area of corporate sponsorships and athletic marketing.

He helps generate income through marketing, sponsorship, ticket sales and promotions and helps create and develop strategies for all athletic department broadcasts, including the Penguin Sports Radio Network, radio and television coaches shows and special radio-TV programming.

He also oversees licensing of the department’s trademarks.

Penguin games air on iHeartRadio, with tomorrow’s pre-game show versus the Mastodons set to begin at 6 p.m. on 570 WKBN-AM.

Fans will have a chance to watch the Penguins on national television over the next 11 days when their game at Cleveland State (2 p.m.) on Sunday, and home game with Milwaukee on Feb. 21 (9 p.m.) airs on ESPNU.

On Monday, Ann Marie Martin, noted area basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and track official, will serve as guest speaker.