Sometimes a coach's sideline demeanor is different than it is off the court. That's not the case for Emmanuel women's coach Andy Yosinoff, who carries that passion and intensity seemingly everywhere. d3photography.com file photo by Larry Radloff

By Brian Lester
D3sports.com

With nearly 50 years of coaching in the rear-view mirror, Emmanuel women’s basketball coach Andy Yosinoff admits that perhaps he has toned down his intensity. To a certain extent at least.

“I was crazy at one time, but I’ve quieted down a bit. It really depends on who the referees are now,” Yosinoff said with a laugh. 

Ask sophomore center Kaitlyn Bartash about it, and she isn’t sure Yosinoff is less fiery than he used to be.

“Supposedly he’s gotten tamer over the years. That’s what he keeps telling us,” Bartash said. “He’s a tough coach for sure. Definitely old school. But he’s a good coach. His style works for us.”

Lesa Dennis-Mahamed, a hall of fame player at the school, wonders if the energy and fire Yosinoff puts on display is partly entertainment for the fans.

“He’s animated. He has lots of energy. And is quite vociferous. Sometimes I wonder what the fans are enjoying more. The game or coach’s theatrics on the sideline,” Dennis-Mahamed said.

Theatrics maybe, but Kiera Eubanks, who wrapped up her playing career at Emmanuel in 2024, said the style of coaching Yosinoff brings to the gym is beneficial to the team.

“You can tell by the way he coaches how much passion he has for his team and how competitive he is,” Eubanks said. “For me, that was the motivation to go out and play hard because it instilled a greater passion and desire to win.”

While the level of intensity Yosinoff still has is debatable, what isn’t in question is his greatness. He’s one of the best all-time at any level of college hoops, winning more than 900 games and is on the ballot for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.

Not everything has come easy, but for Yosinoff to be in his 48th year at the helm of the Saints, it’s impressive looking at what he’s been able to accomplish.

“Coaching has many ups and downs,” Yosinoff said. “My whole career, there have been more ups than downs. And it’s been incredible to be at the same school for 48 years. Nowadays, no one does that.”

Only two of his seasons have ended with the losses outnumbering the wins, and one of those was his inaugural year in 1977. His team finished 3-7, though it’s worth noting the famous Blizzard of 1978 wiped out most of the schedule.

“We were snowed out. No one could move for a month around Boston. That’s how it all started,” Yosinoff said.

A hall of fame tennis player at the University of Rhode Island, Yosinoff said he saw an ad to coach tennis at Emmanuel, which was an all-female school at the time.

In his interview, he asked if the school had a basketball coach. He was told no.

“I said ‘now you do,’” Yosinoff said. “We started with five girls and no scoreboard.” 

The next year, Emmanuel went 12-4. By the 1985-86 campaign, the Saints were in the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time. They have made 20 more appearances since, including a final four trip in 2000-01.

Bartash said it’s neat to see the history her head coach has been a part of and that’s part of what makes playing for him so special.

“Looking at the banners and seeing his name and all the success of the teams of the past, it’s really awesome to think about,” Bartash said. “He’s been here forever and is a really funny guy. It’s cool to play for someone who has had so much success for such a long time.”

Meghan Kirwin Chlohosey is a former player at Emmanuel who was part of two GNAC championship teams with the Saints. She has been coaching with Yosinoff since 2014 and is not surprised at all that her mentor has achieved what he has in his remarkable career.

“He pours his heart and soul into this program,” Chlohosey said. “Day in and day out, in-season and offseason, he is working to improve this program constantly so that the student athletes have the best possible experience and opportunities at Emmanuel.”

Eubanks said Yosinoff never failed to keep things interesting during her time there.

“Playing for coach Andy was an unforgettable experience. You truly never knew what he was going to say or what move he was going to make next,” Eubanks said. 

Yosinoff started coaching before the NCAA era of women’s basketball and while the perception is that a lot has changed over the years, Yosinoff said the change hasn't been that dramatic.

He does point out, however, that players are bigger and stronger because of strength and conditioning programs and that the recruiting game looks different, especially with the ever growing presence of AAU ball.

“Recruiting is a lot more competitive than it used to be” Yosinoff said. “The days of finding the under the radar players, which is my specialty, is very difficult.”

Yet, at every AAU tournament Yosinoff attends, he rarely sits still.

“I have an unlimited amount of energy for my age,” Yosinoff said. “When I go to tournaments, I go from court one to court 70. I’m famous for moving around. No one sees me sitting down.”

And his recruiting approach still has an old school feel to it. 

“I still call the high school coach and introduce myself to the parents,” Yosinoff said. “My focus is on developing a relationship with the players and their families. I let them know that I will care about them on and off the court.”

That’s part of what sold Bartash on attending Emmanuel.

“It was about how interested he was during the recruiting process,” Bartash said. “He puts a lot of care and attention into all of us. He’s always checking in.”

That is something that has always meant a lot to Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, who wrapped up her playing career with the Saints in 2020 and went on to play pro ball.

“He really cares about your academics, setting you up for life after college and he cares about who you are as a person, and that’s rare,” Ramirez-Tejeda said. “So it was an honor to wear an Emmanuel jersey across my chest every chance I got because I knew I was playing for something bigger than myself. I was representing the school, my teammates and the countless women who had played for him the last 40-plus years and the legacy he built from scratch.”

Around 350 players have played for Yosinoff and he’s maintained relationships with them over the years, attending weddings and listening to their success stories in life after basketball.

“That’s the No. 1 reason I’ve stayed in coaching,” Yosinoff said. “That’s what it’s all about. I’m lucky to have won a lot of games and all that, but I remember much more about what my players have done in life.”

And his players appreciate it.

“Coach Yosinoff has an incredible and inspiring work ethic,” Dennis-Mahmed said. “This trait has a tendency to rub off on anyone that is around him long enough. The determination and dedication I observed in coach have been tools that have taken me throughout every phase of my life.”

Ramirez-Tejeda can’t thank Yosinoff enough for providing the same thing for her.

“He taught me that good things happen to those who persevere and remember the times they had been counted out,” Ramirez-Tejeda said. “He was extremely  hard on me, and the days I thought I was giving it all I had, he found a way to push me and get a tiny bit more. Only a great coach can do that.”

Yosinoff continues to inspire Chlohosey.

“As one of the biggest mentors in my life, Andy has taught me the importance of work ethic, inspires me to be a leader and to continue to grow. And to always find ways to enjoy the journey,” she said.

Eubanks knows she can always count on Yosinoff and the entire Emmanuel program if she needs him in her corner.

“I learned pretty quickly that Emmauel women’s basketball is coach Andy’s family and he loves to take care of us and help in any way he can to make us successful,” Eubanks said. “It’s really cool to know that there is a network of women across the country and really across the world who will pick up a phone call or help you network in some way just because we all played coach Andy.”

Yosinoff hasn’t taken a ton of time to reflect on what he’s done for nearly 50 years in this business and he finds it hard to believe that he is under consideration for a place in the hall of fame.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect to even be close to being on the ballot. If I get in, it will probably be the highlight of my career,” Yosinoff said.

Will the day come when he decides on his own to walk away from the game he loves? Perhaps. So far, he hasn’t given it much thought.

“Most people my age have long retired. I’m going to finish 50 (years),” Yosinoff said. “My philosophy is if I feel good health wise and still have energy, and I’m still doing a good job as a coach, I’m going to keep going. I still enjoy it and I feel like I’m still doing a good job.”