2016 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
2016 SOCON TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
2016 SOCON REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2015 SOCON REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2014 SOCON REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2011 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
2011 SOCON TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
2011 SOCON REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
2006 OVC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2005 NCAA TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE
2005 OVC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
2005 OVC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2004 OVC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
2003 OVC REGULAR-SEASON CHAMPIONS
Jay Yelton enters his 15th season on the coaching staff at Samford University and his second as the team’s associate head coach. Throughout his time in Homewood, Ala., he has helped guide the Bulldogs to eight regular-season conference championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and a trio of conference tournament titles.
As one of the top young goalkeeping coaches in the nation, Yelton continually gets the best out of his talent and perennially places the Bulldogs’ defense in the upper echelon of the Southern Region. Last season, Yelton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 15-4-2 overall record, including an 8-1 record in Southern Conference play. Samford earned the regular-season championship, the SoCon Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth time in school history.
The Bulldogs advanced to face Florida State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
In 2015, Samford finished SoCon play with a stellar 8-1 record and earned the regular-season conference championship. The Bulldogs also tallied a significant 2-1 triumph over Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Additionally, three seasons ago, Samford traveled to Auburn, Ala., and knocked off the 18th-ranked Auburn Tigers, 2-1, in a match broadcasted live to the nation on the SEC Network.
In 2011, Yelton played a huge role in Samford’s undefeated conference season as the Bulldogs registered eight shutout victories and outscored their opponents in league play, 17-5.
Samford’s senior goalkeeper in 2011, Alyssa Whitehead, became the school’s all-time leader in career shutouts and earned her fourth consecutive All-SoCon honor. Under the tutelage of Yelton, Whitehead became one of the most decorated soccer players in Samford history and competed professionally in Sweden.
Yelton worked as a volunteer assistant for a season, before joining the staff full-time in 2004. He was then promoted to the top assistant position in the spring of 2008. In 2015, Yelton was further promoted to associate head coach and has continued to excel in the role.
Yelton’s primary responsibility is goalkeeper training. He also plays a large role in Samford’s summer youth and team camps, and assists with on-field coaching. Under his tutelage, the goalkeeping corps has become one of the top units in the country.
In 2009, under the watchful eye of Yelton, Whitehead finished her sophomore campaign ranked first in the nation in both save percentage (.913) and goals-against average (0.31). She started all 18 matches and allowed only six goals. Whitehead had 10 complete-game shutouts and helped lead the Bulldogs to a school-record 12-1-5 overall mark.
In 2008, Yelton helped guide the 6-foot-3 freshman native to All-Freshman SoCon honors after she concluded Samford’s inaugural season in the conference with a 1.07 goals-against average and a 5-3-2 record in goal.
In 2007, the Bulldogs earned the athletic department’s first at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament as they allowed only 16 goals in 21 games. Samford’s goalkeeping corps was led by All-Conference performer Cayley Winters and compiled an OVC-best, goals-against average of 0.73.
In 2006, Samford boasted the top goalkeeping corps in the OVC for the second year. The Bulldogs allowed only 14 goals in 18 matches, finishing with nine shutouts and leading the conference in goals-against average (0.73).
During the 2005 campaign, the Bulldogs compiled 12 shutouts and tied a school record by allowing only 13 goals. Samford led the OVC in both goals-against average (0.54) and shutouts, surrendering only five goals in 11 matches versus conference opponents.
In 2004, Yelton’s goalkeepers recorded 10 shutouts and allowed a conference-low 14 goals. Samford rattled off five consecutive shutout victories and finished with a 7-1 league record for a second straight year. The Bulldogs also led the OVC in goals-against average (0.77), and allowed only two goals during their eight-match conference schedule.
In 2003, the squad ranked ninth in the country in shutout percentage (.619), tied for fourth nationally with 13 team shutouts and posted a 0.66 goals-against average.
Crystal Royall, who played under Yelton’s tutelage from 2003–04, set school records for season and career goals-against average, season and career shutouts, and consecutive shutout minutes. She was the first player in OVC history to be named both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. In 2003, she garnered national attention by being awarded with third-team All-Southeast honors by Soccer Buzz magazine.
Yelton, who hails from Piney Flats, Tenn., began his coaching career as the goalkeeping trainer for the junior varsity and varsity teams at Parkview High School in Atlanta, Ga. The varsity team, coached by his brother and current Samford Head Coach Todd Yelton, won the 4A state championship in 1999.
Jay Yelton accepted an assistant coaching position at Georgia State University, where he stayed from 2000 to 2001. He then became head soccer coach at Lees-McRae College, a Division II school in Banner Elk, N.C., where he led the team to a 19-3 mark in 2001.
At King College in Bristol, Tenn., Yelton turned in an impressive four-year playing career, and was named team captain in his junior and senior seasons. He was an all-conference selection both years and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player as a senior. In 1998, he completed a bachelor’s degree in history and graduated with honors.
Yelton is married to the former Graham Holt. The couple has one son, Monroe “Roe”, and resides in Homewood, Ala.
