Colorado University Athletics
Volleyball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
University of Colorado coach Liz Kritza has announced the hiring of Leonid Yelin (Len-id Yell-in) as an assistant coach for the Buffaloes' volleyball program.
Yelin comes to Colorado with a great deal of experience, including over 20 years as a head coach. Most recently Yelin put in 15 years at the helm of the University of Louisville women's program, recording an overall record of 366-112 (.766) to become the winningest coach in school history. During his time at UL he led the Cardinals to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances which included four visits to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. He had 11 seasons with 20 or more wins and two seasons with 30 or more victories.
While coaching the Cardinals, Yelin was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year and the AVCA All-Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 2004. He was also honored as the C-USA Coach of the Decade the same year.
Prior to his 15 years at UL, Yelin coached five years at Barry University from 1991-95, compiling a 114-36 record. He led the Buccaneers to the NCAA Division II Championship in 1995 and was named the Sunshine State Conference and AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year. In 1994 Yelin was named the AVCA Division II South Region Coach of the Year after taking Barry to its first NCAA tournament where the Buccaneers advanced all the way to the Elite Eight.
Yelin's overall NCAA coaching record is 480-148 (0.764) and ranked 16th on the all-time NCAA list for active coaches after the 2010 season. Prior to his retirement at UL in 2011, Yelin ranked 12th on the wins by percentage list for active coaches (0.764) and was 34th on the all-time victories list (480).
Before to his NCAA coaching experience, Yelin was a successful player and coach in Uzbekistan. He played for the Republic of Uzbekistan men's team from 1970-75 and then started his coaching career as the head coach for the Uzbekistan junior (U-18) team. Yelin was named the head coach of the national Uzbekistan women's team in 1977, leading that team to a first-place finish at the 1977 and 1981 U-18 national championship and at the 1978 USSR Women's World Cup. He was the head coach of the Ukraine women's professional team from 1983-87.
Yelin was the head coach of the Uzbekistan men's professional team in 1988 and 89. Both years his team won the men's national championships.
Yelin was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and earned his equivalent of a master's diploma in physical education and sport training from the Uzbekistan Government Institute of Physical Culture and Sport. His wife, Yelena, was a member of the Republic of Uzbekistan's Women's National Team from 1973-86 and was a member of the USSR Olympic team from 1975-78, during which she was a two-time European Champion. The couple has two grown children, Eleanora and Boris.
The Yelin File
PERSONAL
Born: April 4, 1950
Hometown: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Education: Uzbekistan Government Institute of Physical Culture and Sport (1970)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
Uzbekistan National Team - 1970-75
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Head Coach, Louisville - 1996-2010
Head Coach, Barry (Division II) - 1991-95
Head Coach, Uzbekistan men's professional team - 1988-89
Head Coach, Ukraine women's professional team - 1983-87
Head Coach, Uzbekistan Women's National Team - 1977-82
HEAD COACHING RECORD
Year School Record
1991 Barry 8-17
1992 Barry 19-5
1993 Barry 23-8
1994 Barry 30-4
1995 Barry 32-4
1996 Louisville 26-5
1997 Louisville 16-12
1998 Louisville 29-5
1999 Louisville 19-12
2000 Louisville 26-8
2001 Louisville 26-7
2002 Louisville 28-6
2003 Louisville 25-6
2004 Louisville 30-3
2005 Louisville 31-3
2006 Louisville 25-7
2007 Louisville 22-8
2008 Louisville 19-11
2009 Louisville 21-11
2010 Louisville 23-8
At UofL 366-112 (.766)
Career 480-148 (.764)
