Seize Your Mind Podcast #7 * Yolanda Thomas * Director of Coaching Tulsa Soccer Club

Yolanda Thomas is the Girls Director of Coaching for Tulsa Soccer Club's Youth Academy

Thomas had an impressive overall playing career. While at Oklahoma State University she was a 3-time All-American, 2-time Big 12 Player of the Year, and was selected as a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2009. In addition, Thomas has 25 caps representing her native country of Sweden as she played

on every youth National Team from U15-U23, including captaining the U19 Swedish National Team in 2003. She also played seven seasons in the Swedish Top league “Damallsvenskan”.

Thomas came to Tulsa from Edmond Memorial High School where she compiled a career 50-11 record in four seasons as the head coach. She led EMHS to a 2014 Oklahoma State runner-up finish, and in her four years had 12 all-state selections and seven players who went on to play collegiate soccer.

Thomas served as the director of the SoccerCity OKC club team for four years. She lead the Lil’ Kickers Child Development Soccer Program from inception in 2012 to become the fastest growing franchise in the United States and Canada in 2013. Thomas also coached in the Oklahoma FC franchise for three years.

Thomas served as the Co-Head Coach of the Oklahoma City FC women’s premier soccer league team in the summer of 2015. She led the team to a Final Four participation, the first in program history.

Thomas was a four-year letterwinner at Oklahoma State, where she received her bachelor’s degree in human services in 2009 and went on to earn her master’s degree in international studies in 2010. Thomas (then Odenyo) was a three-time NSCAA All-American and NSCAA Scholar All-America selection, and a two-time Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. Thomas is originally from Sweden where she played several seasons in the top league, “Damallsvenskan.” She also represented Sweden at the national level.

She and her husband, Phillip, have one daughter, Sasja, and a son, Solomon.

She holds a US Soccer National ‘C’ license.