Nicole Yost was named the head coach of the Berea College Softball program prior to the 2019 season.
During the 2019 season, Yost led the program to a 13-25 overall record and 3-13 in conference. She helped guide three athletes to All-USA South West Conference honors including Audreonna Lindsey (first team), Ashley Spencer and Kara Winchester (second team). The Mountaineers clinched sixth place in the USA South for their first ever conference playoff berth.
In 2020, Berea’s season was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Mountaineers played eight games during spring break in Clermont, Fl. before their season ended. At that time, Audreonna Lindsey was leading the conference with a .577 batting average, while the rest of the team was hitting .307, collectively.
Yost came from SUNY Potsdam, where she was the head softball coach of the Bears from 2014-2018. Potsdam showed much improvement over her four years at the helm, which she looks to bring to the Mountaineers in the upcoming seasons. During her second season with the Bears, Potsdam matched the program's single-season record for wins. Her squad also set the single-season marks for runs (151), doubles (49), triples (11), walks (112), total bases (401), and ERA (4.22). The Bears registered a .272 batting average, .374 slugging percentage, .343 on-base percentage and 123 runs batted in, all ranked 2nd in the Bear's program history. In 2018, Potsdam recorded their most SUNYAC wins (5), including sweeping SUNY New Paltz on senior day. Yost coached multiple players to All-SUNYAC First and Second-team selections as well as coaching multiple All-Academic team members.
From 2012-2014, Yost served as a graduate assistant at Misericoridia University, where she was the hitting and fielding instructor. During her time with the Cougars, they saw a seven-win improvement, going from 16-22 in 2013 to 25-17 in 2014 to reach the Freedom Conference and ECAC South Playoffs.
Prior to her coaching career, Yost was a three-year captain and four-year starter for Mansfield University. The catcher/outfielder was highly decorated with the Mounties. Yost ranks second in the program's career home-run list (23), third on the single-season home-run list (9), and second in slugging percentage (.740). She was a first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selection in 2009 and 2010. She was also the Mounties Spring Athlete of the Year in 2009.
Yost, an Antes Fort, Pa. native, earned her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education for Mathematics from Mansfield in 2011 and her Master's in Instructional Technology from Misericordia University in 2014. She resides in Richmond, Ky. with her husband, Andrew, and their two dogs, Boomer and Bash.
