Yolanda Thomas was named an assistant coach on Seb Hines’ staff during the 2023 preseason, joining from Tulsa Soccer Club and Fortuna Tulsa of the WPSL. During her tenure with Tulsa, she led the side to 2019 and 2021 Franchise of the Year and was named 2019 WPSL Red River Conference Coach of the Year. Over four seasons, Thomas guided Fortuna Tulsa to two conference championships, and appearances in the National Final Four, Regional Championship and National Elite Eight.
Prior to that, she was the head coach at Roger State University and an assistant at Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa. As a player, the Oklahoma State product was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year and a three-time NSCAA All-American, being named a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2009. Thomas also earned multiple call-ups to the Swedish youth national teams and would go on to play seven seasons professionally in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan.
Thomas holds a USSF “A” license and currently serves in United Soccer Coaches’ Black Coaches Community and leads the Women Coaches Community’s #MomsWhoCoach initiative.
