Cornerstone's Jessica Yonkers Named WHAC Rob Miller Coach of Character
LIVONIA, Mich. - The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) announced Cornerstone Head Women's Basketball Coach Jessica Yonkers as the 2024-25 Rob Miller Coach of Character. Yonkers wins this award for the first time and marks the sixth time a coach from Cornerstone has claimed the honor. Yonkers is now forwarded to the NAIA for consideration for the National Coach of Character award.
The award is named after former WHAC Commissioner Rob Miller and recognizes a coach who demonstrates methods of teaching character through sport while instilling a tradition of athletic and community excellence. The award centers itself on the five core values of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Champions of Character initiative: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Meltzer is now forwarded to the NAIA in consideration for the national award.
Yonkers has been the head coach at Cornerstone for eight season and has been voted by her peers as the Women's Basketball Champion of Character Coach on five different occasions. She also serves the conference as the coaching chair for women's basketball.
What they are saying:
"Jessica is a model of the Five Core Values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative. She exemplifies integrity, respect, responsibility sportsmanship and servant-leadership more than any coach I've ever seen or been around in my 33 years of coaching at the collegiate level."
"She has taken over a program that was in disarray and has brought it back to respectability and has her team competing at the top of the WHAC again. Through the first couple of years of struggling, Jessica has shown unbelievable integrity, courage and resiliency. Her vision for her program has never wavered because of her commitment to excellence and tremendous work-ethic."
"Jessica is a very humble person and quick to reflect any success she attains to her team, coaching staff and the Lord. She has a servant's heart and always has the best interest of her players first and foremost. Jessica is also one of the most positive, energetic and encouraging people I've ever known. Her positivity is contagious and is reflected in her players attitudes and outlook on basketball and life."
"Jessica is a tremendous leader and teacher. She's unbelievably passionate about what she does every day and never gives less than her best effort. Jessica not only teaches the game of basketball at a very high level, but she teaches life-skills as well. Her players love her and would run through a wall for her."
All-Time Coach of Character winners
2008-09 - Randy Strawser, Cornerstone (Women's Soccer)
2009-10 - Randy Strawser, Cornerstone (Women's Soccer)
2010-11 - Jerry Hendrick, Aquinas (Tennis)
2011-12 - Kristi Solberg, Indiana Tech (Volleyball)
2012-13 - Randy Strawser, Cornerstone (Women's Soccer)
2013-14 - Mike Wojciakowski, Aquinas (Cross Country)
2014-15 - none named
2015-16 - none named
2016-17 - Kourtney Wilson, Indiana Tech (Volleyball)
2017-18 - Jim Lipocky, Indiana Tech (Women's Soccer)
2018-19 - Chuck Lowitzki, Cornerstone (Baseball) (national winner)
2019-20 - Randy Strawser, Cornerstone (Women's Soccer)
2020-21 - Patrick Daugherty, Madonna (Cross Country, Track & Field)
2021-22 - Noel Emenhiser, Madonna (Men's Basketball)
2022-23 - Mary Ann Meltzer, Lawrence Tech (Women's Lacrosse)
2023-24 - Andrew Ioanou, Siena Heights (Men's & Women's Golf)
2024-25 - Jessica Yonkers, Cornerstone (Women's Basketball