Jan. 11, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Todd Yelton was announced as Samford University's new women's soccer coach by Director of Athletics Bob Roller on Friday.

Yelton has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at UAB where he helped turn around a Lady Blazer team that went 3-14-2 in 2000. Last season UAB posted an 11-9 record which included a 7-3 Conference USA mark.

"Our soccer program is entering its sixth year of existence this fall, and we feel confident that Todd Yelton is the right person to lead this program as we move toward the Ohio Valley Conference in 2003," said Roller.

Before his stint at UAB, Yelton served for four years as the head coach of Parkview High School in Atlanta, Ga. In his tenure there, he posted a 59-11-3 overall mark and captured two AAAA State Championships (1997, 1999). His teams received national rankings in the National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll in three of his four years. Prior to coaching at Parkview, Yelton spent three seasons as head coach at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. While at Oglethorpe, he posted a 40-32-4 overall record.

"I am excited about this opportunity," said Yelton. "I know Samford is a young team that had its ups and downs last year. Our goal, like most other schools, will be to compete in our conference and have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. To do that we have to win our conference, so that will be our number one goal."

As a player, his collegiate career began at Tennessee Tech, where he played as a freshman. He then transferred to King College, where he was a two-year defensive starter. He earned his bachelor's degree in History from King College in 1991.

A native of Johnson City, Tenn., Yelton and his wife, Shauna, reside in Birmingham with their four-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, and one-year-old son Colin.