Yelle named Coach of the Year
Head coach/manager Tom Yelle, who just completed his 30th year with the Post 334 program and 36th year of coaching, was honored July 29 in New Ulm as Minnesota’s American Legion Coach of the Year for 2009.
The honor was bestowed during the pre-state tournament banquet at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. Though Post 334 finished with its first losing season in more than 35 years this summer, the Coach of the Year honor took into account Yelle’s contributions to the game and his service to the players of Coon Rapids Post 334. The coach, in fact, has had a hand in one of the state’s most successful American Legion baseball programs — a program that has produced more than 1100 wins over the past 30 years.
Yelle, who is about to begin his 23rd season as head coach at Anoka Ramsey College, said the Coach of the Year honor was more of a testament about the high credibility earned by Coon Rapids baseball than just one person.
“From the incredible Little Leagues we have in our community through our Babe Ruth and traveling programs, there are many, many dedicated baseball people and coaches who afford our kids some of the country’s best opportunities to learn and play ball. To them I say ‘thank you.’ It makes coaching at the upper level in Coon Rapids easy…”
Posted: July 31st, 2009