Racing Louisville FC promotes Bev Yanez to head coach, the 3rd in club history

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Racing Louisville FC promoted assistant coach Bev Yanez to head coach, making her the third leader in the club's short history.

Yanez, who joined Racing last year as the top assistant under former head coach Kim Björkegren, replaces her former boss as Louisville chases its first-ever NWSL playoff berth in its fourth campaign.

"I'm incredibly excited," Yanez said in an interview with WDRB. "I've said it from the get go with this group just how special they are. I think they're incredibly special with what they obviously can offer on the pitch but also what they offer off the pitch.

"I think, for me to come into this position and want to push, in several aspects, continue to help them develop both individually and collectively, I'm very grateful. I'm honored to be a part of this club. This city means a lot to me. This club means a lot to me."

A former NWSL player who helped OL Reign win back-to-back NWSL Shields, Yanez came to Louisville after working two years as an assistant at NJ/NY Gotham FC. She quickly proved to be popular with players, whom she informed of her promotion during a Zoom call Wednesday.

"It sounds incredibly cliche, but they want to do everything that they possibly can for the success of each other as a group and for the success of the club as an organization," Yanez said. "You can say that and you can act like that. Those could be two totally different things. But, at this club, they are the same thing. The way that the players act, how they play, how they work incredibly hard for each other, and how much they want each other to succeed for the common success and good of the group is very genuine."

Bev Yanez — Courtesy of Racing Louisville FC

Players' praise for Yanez has stemmed from her engaging approach to coaching and attention to detail. She said continuing to build better relationships with her players and staff while strengthening a culture will be vital for success.

"I think it's framework, right? Players and staff as a whole, we need to know what's too little and what's too much," Yanez said of her coaching philosophy. "And allowing the players to operate within those boundaries in their unique way is incredibly important for me in this role, making sure that there's a very clear understanding of what too little is and what too much might be, in some sense.

"And so, for me, it's just defining that early on, creating that framework for them to be uniquely themselves and creatively themselves within it both on and off the pitch. But it's very important. I have to understand and be able to build those relationships of leaning into somebody that needs it: whether it's at training, whether it's a conversation but also supporting them and understand that they feel I have their best interests at heart."

General manager Ryan Dell expressed a desire for a coach who could take Racing to the next level. Outside of a Women's Cup victory in its inaugural season and a Challenge Cup final appearance last year, Louisville has not been able to find success in the National Women's Soccer League. The club challenged for a playoff spot last season but ultimately fell short.

"We could not be more excited for Bev to lead Racing Louisville into the future," Racing general manager Ryan Dell said in a news release Thursday. "During her time in Louisville this past season and throughout the interview process, we have seen how dedicated, tactically sound and innovative she is. Bev’s commitment to development and her NWSL experience stood out in the search process, and in every conversation we had about this role, her immense potential was clear. She can be a championship-winning coach at Racing Louisville, and she embodies what we want in a head coach both on and off the pitch."

Racing, who has rising stars like Ary Borges, Savannah DeMelo, Jaelin Howell and Katie Lund paired with accomplished veterans like Abby Erceg and Carson Pickett, feels it has enough to take that next step. It will be up to a first-year head coach in Yanez to realize that potential.

"I can't say that pressure is a privilege for the players and not say the same thing for myself," Yanez said. "It's an absolute privilege to be in this position. It's an honor to be in this position. And this industry definitely has its highs and lows very naturally.

"So, it's very important for me, the people that I'm building around me and alongside me, as what I like to say, so that we can make sure that we stay the course. We have to stay the course in making sure that everybody's bought in and staying the course is going to be the most important thing for us this season."

Yanez's husband Othaniel is a former University of Louisville soccer player who currently helps coach within the Louisville City and Racing Louisville FC Academy. They have dated since high school, so she built familiarity with the area by visiting Othaniel often.

"On my first visit, I was completely ecstatic about the experience," Yanez said. "We all know the food's fantastic, the people are incredibly kind and very endearing. And this place has, throughout that time visiting back and forth, and obviously getting more time in the city before taking this opportunity, has become very near and dear to me.

"When I knew this original opportunity from an assistant coaching perspective was available, I had my agent reach out right away. It's somewhere where I've always wanted to be."

Now, she has the opportunity she has always wanted. And her message to the players on a celebratory Zoom focused on making the best of it for everyone.

"I care about them, their growth and their development at this organization," Yanez said. "I take that very seriously. The feeling that I've had throughout my career, not specifically during my NWSL time, but there were many times that I walked away not feeling like I got enough from where and how I wanted to develop. And I promised myself in these roles that I would always keep that in mind.

"And so for me, making sure that players know what the development process looks like, and that we will be pushing them to ensure that they're developing, is something that I know I will bring into this role and something that I'm incredibly excited about."