Nov. 15, 2007

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst College athletic advisor Dr. James Adovasio has announced the hiring of Ray Yost to fill two athletic positions. Yost has been named associate athletic director at Mercyhurst College's North East campus and tennis coach at Mercyhurst's main campus. Both positions will report directly to Mercyhurst College Director of Athletics Craig Barnett.

As the men's and women's tennis coach at Mercyhurst College from 1995 through 2007, Yost compiled career records of 134-130 with the women and 96-107 with the men. He resigned in January of 2007 to focus as owner and operator of Spring Break Tennis in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Yost has vast experience in the business side of athletics. Along with his work as owner and operator of Spring Break Tennis, he has been the tennis director at Hidden Valley Four Seasons Resort and the tournament director and consultant for the Fairview Recreation Authority. He also served as owner and operator of Westwood Racquet Club for 17 years and as president of Yost Enterprises, owning and operating four athletic facilities.

Yost took over the women's team beginning in the 1994-95 season and began to build the program. His teams finished better than .500 for five consecutive years beginning in the 2001-02 season and reached the NCAA playoffs in 2004 and 2005. The 2004 squad had a high-water mark record of 17-6. He was also named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2003.

He took over the men's program in 1995 and promptly won the East Regional Championship. His teams finished .500 or better in each of his final four seasons, making the NCAA playoffs in both 2004 and 2005. He also was named GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2005. As well, his No. 1 tennis player, Mariano Fava, was named GLIAC Player of the Year in 2005 and Mercyhurst's Senior Athlete of the Year in 2007.

At Mercyhurst North East, Yost will oversee a department with 12 sports competing at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) level. The department sponsors sports in baseball, men's and women's basketball, cheerleading, men's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's volleyball, and wrestling.

To reach Coach Yost, please e-mail him at: rman50@aol.com