Former men’s professional player and University of Louisville standout Othaniel Yanez joined the Bellarmine University women’s soccer staff as an assistant prior to the 2024 season.
In Yanez's first season at Bellarmine, he helped guide Bellarmine to its first ASUN Tournament berth in three years and into the quarterfinals after a first-round PK shootout win over Austin Peay. The Knights set new Division I-era program records for total wins (five) and ASUN victories (four) while garnering their first-ever ASUN postseason superlative award (McKenzie Carle, Freshman of the Year) and landing a program-record three All-ASUN accolades (Carle, Emma Nicholson, Sidney Rigsby).
Following his playing career, Yanez developed an extensive coaching and training ledger. In 2023, he was the head coach of Racing Louisville FC 09 Purple and 07 Black, the head coach of Louisville City FC 06 Black and 08 Black, and an assistant coach of Racing Louisville FC W League.
In 2022, Yanez was the girls’ head coach of Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville. That same year, he was a development coach and camps/clinics coordinator for Gotham FC of the National Women’s Soccer League.
In 2021, Yanez was the programs director and 2006 boys’ head coach for Juventus Academy Silicon Valley of California. He was the California-based COPA Soccer Training Center director and coach in 2019-20.
From 2014-19, Yanez was the co-founder and head coach of GOALS Soccer School in Kobe, Japan, and the head coach and program lead of Mercer Island FC in Washington. He was simultaneously the head soccer trainer and affiliate owner of Beast Mode Soccer Seattle from 2015-19, a head coach at Reign Academy (2018-19) and a head soccer trainer with Kent United FC (2017-18).
Yanez played at Louisville from 2006-09. The midfielder/forward was a four-year starter, making 63 starts in 66 career appearances. He was a third-team All-Big East selection in 2007 and a three-time Team MVP (2007-09).
Yanez was a 48th overall draft pick of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, whom he played for in 2010. He was a team captain and Team MVP of the Louisville Lightning of the Professional Arena Soccer League in 2010 and 2011 before competing for Deucao Kobe of the Japanese Professional Futsal League in 2012 and 2013.
