Pono Yin was hired as the head coach of the men's volleyball program on Aug. 11, 2021 by Vice President for Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail. 

Yin comes to the mountains from NCAA Division I Drake University where he was an Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach and Director of Operations.
 
“In finding the right fit for us, I kept coming back to Pono,” said McPhail. “He emulates what I want our coaches to be: relational, committed, and full of passion. We are all excited to welcome him to Bobcat Nation and see him in action as we build our men’s volleyball program to a level of excellence, we all accept with great pride.”
 
During his time in Des Moines, Iowa, Yin’s main responsibilities included managing the program’s travel budget and facility arrangements for practices, coaching all positions with a focus on overall offense, assisting the Recruiting Coordinator with recruiting evaluations and communications, and managing the teams’ equipment. In addition to his duties as an assistant coach, Yin was also the Camp and Dog Pack Director where he planned and organized the program’s volunteering efforts, including the annual Spike’s Dog Pack and the Bulldog Volleyball Camps.
 
“I am beyond excited to be a part of the Lees-McRae family and the Bobcat community,” said Yin. “I would like to thank Craig McPhail, Coach Abigail King, President King, and the rest of Lees-McRae for trusting me with the opportunity to lead the men’s volleyball program. I look forward to working with the guys and to create exceptional student-athletes both on and off the court.”
 
Before working at Drake University, Yin was an Assistant Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Coach for Graceland University, an NAIA school in Lamoni, Iowa. His roles included managing all aspects of recruiting for both programs, coaching all positions with a focus on setters and defense, coordinating team travel, and assisting with the program’s fundraising efforts. Along with his collegiate coaching experience, Yin coached at Desert Oasis and Liberty High School, as well as the Digthis! Volleyball Club.
 
Yin received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Graceland University, in addition to competing for Yellowjackets from 2004-2009.