Connie Yori (1992) - Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame

Connie Yori

Induction:
1992
Class:
1986

Creighton alumna Connie Yori, BA’86, former basketball standout and coach at Creighton, and now the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, received Creighton’s Leader for Life award on May 5, 2011 at the annual fundraiser luncheon for women’s athletics. The award honors an individual whose actions have made a lasting impact on women’s sports at the University.

Yori, who starred with the Bluejays in the 1980s, still ranks third on the University’s all-time scoring list, with 2,010 points. She was inducted into Creighton’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992, and her No. 25 jersey was retired.

After receiving a journalism degree in 1986, Yori joined her coach, Bruce Rasmussen, as an assistant. After Rasmussen was named associate athletic director, he hired Yori, who was then coaching at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, as Creighton’s head coach in 1992.

In 10 years as head coach at Creighton, Yori compiled a 170-115 record with two NCAA Tournament appearances (1994, 2002). In 2002, she guided the program to Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular-season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament berth, earning conference coach of the year honors.

“Connie leads by example. Her work ethic, competitive spirit and unbridled passion for education and the game is legendary,” said Rasmussen, Creighton’s director of athletics. “She was instrumental in the growth and development of women’s basketball at Creighton.”

In 2002, Yori was named head coach at Nebraska. Over nine seasons, she has guided the Huskers to seven postseason appearances, and, in 2010, led them to an unprecedented perfect 29-0 regular-season, a Big 12 Conference regular-season championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.