Coaching Staff

Yolanda Cole | Assistant Coach

Yolanda Cole enters her second season as an assistant coach on the UMass women’s basketball staff in 2024-25. Cole joined the Minutewomen in the summer of 2023 with 16-plus years of Division I coaching experience and started her coaching career at Central Connecticut State and Kellogg Community College.

UMass finished the 2023-24 regular season with a win over St. Bonaventure in the finale before following with a 54-49 win over La Salle to advance to the Atlantic 10 Championship second round. Lilly Taulelei earned Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors after starting 22-of-31 games in her freshman season while Stefanie Kulesza earned a spot on the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team after posting a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double against no. 23-ranked Washington State.

"I followed Yolanda's coaching career for quite some time and have always been impressed with the impact she has made on her teams and staffs," said head coach Mike Leflar. "Everyone I spoke with talked about her strengths as a relationship builder and that is something I value. Yolanda has significant on-court experience and I look forward to working alongside her as we continue to grow UMass women's basketball."

A native of Battle Creek, Michigan, Cole arrived at Massachusetts from Hofstra in Hempstead, New York. She began her tenure with the Pride in July 2021 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.

Prior to her time at Hofstra, Cole served as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart University for seven seasons where she was responsible for recruiting, scouting, community outreach and guard development. She was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Pioneers in June of 2021.

At Sacred Heart, Cole helped the Pioneers to three Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) appearances (2016, 2017, 2019), a Northeast Conference (NEC) Regular Season Championship (2015-16), as well as advised 15 All-NEC selections and three Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association honorees. While on staff, SHU posted a .720 winning percentage in the NEC.

Cole spent two years at Delaware State University as an assistant coach, previous to Sacred Heart, guiding three guards to All-MEAC honors. In addition, she also served as the scouting coordinator, managed scheduling and was a liaison to the student-athlete academic center.

Cole had a five-year stint at Florida Atlantic University, helping the Owls move from a 13th-place finish to a third-place finish and a WNIT appearance during her time as an assistant coach. During her tenure at FAU, she coached one Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and four All-Sun Belt Conference student-athletes.

Cole attended the University of Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and was the head manager for the women's basketball team. As an undergraduate student, she worked as a camp instructor at the girls' basketball camp and eventually served as the women's basketball assistant camp director.

Clare Fitzpatrick | Assistant Coach

Clare Fitzpatrick enters her second season as an assistant coach on the UMass women’s basketball staff after joining the program in May of 2023. Fitzpatrick brings 10 years of extensive experience recruiting, creating player development plans, putting together opponent scout reports and defensive game plans, as well as specific skill instruction for post players.

In her first season at UMass, Fitzpatrick coached freshman forward Lilly Taulelei to the program’s first Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection since 2018-19 as she started 20-of-29 appearances in the regular season while averaging 6.9 points per game on 46-percent from the field. The Minutewomen followed a regular season finale win over St. Bonaventure with a 54-49 win over La Salle to advance to the A-10 Championship second round.

The Southbury, Connecticut, comes to Amherst after spending four years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Holy Cross.

While with the Crusaders, Fitzpatrick helped Holy Cross to a Patriot League Tournament Championship and a regular season title in back-to-back seasons. She was also instrumental in the team's 22nd 20-win season in program history and setting the program conference win mark with 14 in the 2021-22 season. Additionally, she guided several players to a Patriot League All-Tournament MVP honor, All-Rookie team nods, Rookie of the Year award and an All-League First, Second and Third team accolade, including first team selection and 2020 WNBA Draft selection Lauren Manis.

Prior to her time at Holy Cross, Fitzpatrick was a four-year assistant coach at the United States Air Force Academy. There, she played a key role in the Falcon's nation-wide recruiting efforts, as well as coordinating travel, marketing and social media.

Fitzpatrick started her coaching career at Yale as an assistant coach from 2013 to 2015.

Fitzpatrick earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Business in 2013 from Cornell University, where she was a four-time letterwinner. She started in a school-record 109 games during her career and finished seventh overall in points (1,201), sixth in rebounding (609), fourth in free throws made (328) and fifth in blocked shots (68). Fitzpatrick became only the second player in Cornell history to reach 1,200 career points and 600 career rebounds. She was named team captain for the 2012-13 season and was a two-time All-Ivy League selection (2011; 2012) and an All-Ivy Rookie Team selection in 2010.

Samera Marsh | Assistant Coach

Samera Marsh enters her second season as an assistant coach on the UMass women’s basketball staff after joining in April of 2023. The Bronx, New York, native, joined the Minutewomen after spending a year as an assistant coach at Manhattan for her second stint. Marsh brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to UMass after spending over 14 seasons as a collegiate coach.

"Samera's enthusiasm for basketball and for her players was clear from our first conversation," added head coach Mike Leflar. "That enthusiasm, paired with her experiences coaching and recruiting in New York and New Jersey are a perfect combination. Samera will coordinate our recruiting efforts and those states will continue to be a big part of our footprint."

Marsh spent the 2021-22 season as Wagner College's lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. While with the Seahawks, she helped the team to a NEC Semifinals appearance and finished the season with 17 wins. She also coached an All-NEC First Team selection and additional All-Conference honorees.

Prior to Wagner, Marsh was the top assistant coach, and served as the interim head coach, in three seasons at Delaware State. As a member of the staff with the Lady Hornets, she was instrumental in recruiting the No. 1 ranked class in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), according to ESPNW/Collegiate Girls' Basketball Report. Serving the role as acting head coach, she led Delaware State to 61-53 home MEAC victory over Florida A&M.

Additionally, Marsh mentored the MEAC Player of the Year, the First Team BOXTOROW All-American and an All-MEAC Third Team honoree, while helping the team to its highest conference finish of 8-8 in twelve years in her second season with the Lady Hornets.

Marsh served as an assistant coach at LIU Brooklyn for two seasons. In her first season, she played a pivotal role in the Blackbirds' recruitment of an ESPN three-star and Hooptown GTA Fab 48 selection, and No. 47 ranked player, according to Next Sports Phenom Top-100. She also signed the NEC Rookie of the Year, Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year, All-NEC Third and Rookie Team honoree in 2019.

Before her time at LIU Brooklyn, Marsh was an assistant coach for her first stint at Manhattan for the 2015-16 season. She helped recruit the No. 96 ranked point guard, according to ESPN.com, and was part of the of the staff that had the fourth-largest turnaround in the NCAA with 12-plus wins. Under her tutelage, she also saw the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year and three MAAC All-Academic Team selections.

Marsh spent five years at Monroe College, prior to Manhattan, serving as the lead assistant coach. During her tenure, the Mustangs garnered two National Division II Junior College (NJCAA) titles (2011, 2012) and four District Championships from 2012-15. Monroe also produced two national championship Most Valuable Players, four All-Americans, four Region XV Players of the Year, three NJCAA Top 40 All-Star honorees and an Academic All-American during her time. In all, 14 players signed with NCAA Division I programs.

Marsh started her coaching career at her alma mater, Saint Peter's University, as an assistant coach for two seasons. While there, she recruited an All-Ohio Division II First Team selection in her first year, as well as the No. 10 ranked ESPN Elite 25 High School Girls Basketball to the university.

Marsh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication in 2008 from Saint Peter's and is currently working on her Master of Science in Sport Administration from Delaware State. At Saint Peter's, she was the manager for the women's basketball team as an undergraduate before being elevated to assistant coach.