By Mitch Streufert

Leonid Yelin, the women’s volleyball coach since 1996, has been a constant image of diligence and devotion ever since he arrived at the University of Louisville. As the winningest coach at U of L, he has proven himself consistent as well. He has also received awards such as coach of the year and coach of the decade. According to Yelin, a large part of his success can be attributed to the great people at his side helping him.

“The people of this city and university have taken me in and allowed me to flourish into the coach I have become,” said Yelin. “For that I will be forever grateful.”

Yelin’s coaching skills weren’t an accident, as he has devoted his whole life to volleyball.

Growing up, Yelin was small for his age, but he was identified early on as an exceptional athlete. He played several sports up until the age of 17, when he fully committed to volleyball. Even though the position of outside hitter was usually reserved for taller players, Yelin’s vertical play earned him the position.

He made the transition from player to coach in his home country of the former USSR. Then he moved to the United States and began coaching at Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla.

After Yelin won the NCAA Division II national championship at Barry University in 1995, athletic directors across the nation started to notice him. U of L in particular flew Yelin into the city and showed him the facilities he would inherit, were he to leave Barry for U of L. Yelin said he was amazed at the quality and began to realize the advantages of taking the job, such as an increased budget, improved recruiting tools and a skilled support staff. However, Yelin’s   loyalty to the city and university that first took him under their wings led to his reluctance to leave.

“It was the hardest decision I ever had to make,” said Yelin. “But I chose to take the job at Louisville for my family’s needs.”

With that, Yelin began his tenure at U of L.

When players speak about Yelin as a coach, a few things consistently come up. His  quiet leadership is often noticed, as he shows calmness and certainty on the court, even when players are struggling. Junior outside hitter Anastasia Artemeva knows this quality well, having played under Yelin for the last three years.

“Coach is just such a great presence on the court and off,” said Artemeva. “He never gets too up or too down. And I think that is a great thing to have in a coach.”

Stephanie Marsh, assistant coach and former player for Yelin, points to his knowledge of strategy and skills at teaching as invaluable.

“Leonid Yelin is by far the greatest skills coach I have ever been around,” said Marsh. “He can turn somebody who is an exceptional athlete with little volleyball experience into an exceptional volleyball player. Lecia Brown, who graduated last year, was a great example of that. Leonid saw something in her when no one else did, and turned her into an all-conference player.”

As the longest tenured coach at U of L, Yelin has proven his dedication to the school and the sport.

“I am so very lucky to be in the position that I am in right now,” said Yelin. “In 1995 I made a very difficult decision, leaving my friends at Barry University… And it’s one that I don’t regret whatsoever.”