Women's Volleyball | 3/25/2022 4:21:00 PM

MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Leonid Yelin returns to head up the Barry University volleyball program, director of athletics Michael L. Covone announced today.

"It's just such a pleasure to be back," Yelin said. "Barry gave me my first opportunity when I came to the United States, and in many ways, it's always been home to me. I really appreciate Mike (Covone), Dr. (Scott) Smith, and Dr. (Mike) Allen giving me the chance to come back and lead this program that I love so much."

Yelin rejoins the Buccaneers after serving 10 years as the head coach at Syracuse. He led the Bucs to a 114-36 record over five seasons, from 1991-95, and captured Barry's fourth overall NCAA Division II National Championship in 1995. At Barry, he mentored five AVCA All-Americans and three Academic All-Americans, 17 All-Sunshine State Conference selections, including players of the year Wei Liu (1993) and Mickisha Hurley (1995). He was named the SSC Coach of the Year twice, in 1994 and 1995. In 1995, he added an AVCA National Coach of the Year commendation.

Yelin became the Syracuse volleyball's head coach in 2012, after 15 seasons at Louisville and playing and coaching in Uzbekistan. Yelin, who has a career record of 624-292, led the 2018 Orange to Syracuse's first NCAA tournament berth. The Orange also achieved success in the classroom, posting a perfect Graduation Success Rate in each of Yelin's 10 seasons at Syracuse. Yelin's coaching resume includes 17 NCAA Tournament invitations and five NCAA Regional semifinals overall. In 2004 while at Louisville, he earned AVCA All-Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors and received Conference USA Coach of the Decade after leading the Cardinals to six regular season and three tournament title in the first 10 years of the conference.