ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany women's basketball team thanks former Assistant Coach Yvonne Hawkins, known as "Coach Hawk" to staff and student-athletes, for over 20 years of service with the program.  
 
"Yvonne has been a part of the UAlbany campus community and women's basketball program for more than 20 years," said Head Coach Colleen Mullen. "During her tenure, she has impacted the lives of hundreds of student-athletes, while also being an invaluable conduit to our past alumnae. Her charismatic and fun-loving personality will be dearly missed in the athletic department and as a part of our women's basketball family."
 
Hawkins originally joined the women's basketball program in 1987 as an assistant coach, serving in that role for 15 years where she helped transition the program from Division III to Division I from 1996-2002. Her final three seasons at UAlbany were the program's first three at the Division I level.
 
Hawkins then made a stop at Yale University (2002-04), two stops at Boston College (2004-08, 2012-18), and stop at the University of Denver (2008-11). She returned to the Great Danes' sidelines once again in 2018 with the hiring of Mullen, serving as an assistant coach for an additional six years.
 
"Working at UAlbany was so nice, I had to do it twice," said Hawkins. "I'm so grateful for the wonderful experiences I've had and the people I've met and worked with at UAlbany. I will miss being a Great Dane, but I'll always be a true fan."
 
Hawkins was an integral part of UAlbany's 2022 America East Championship run and NCAA Tournament berth, bringing the conference trophy and automatic bid back to Western Ave for the first time since 2017.
 
Coach Hawk now steps away from recruiting and on court instruction. She was announced as the director of special projects and athletic culture for Vanderbilt earlier this week.
 
When discussing Hawkins, Commodores Head Coach Shea Ralph in a press release stated "Yvonne is a pillar of our sport who is respected and loved by everyone who has worked with her or played for her. She has an effervescent and fun-loving personality that will make everyone from our student-athletes to our fans feel like she has been part of the family for years. She also brings a wealth of experience from which our program, campus, and local communities will benefit tremendously. After 30 years in coaching, her wisdom will be an invaluable addition to our program's path forward. I am thrilled to welcome 'Hawk' to Vanderbilt."
 
UAlbany's Coach Mullen went on to add "Yvonne will bring a wealth of wisdom and experience to Vanderbilt's staff and without a doubt will be loving Nashville's country music! We appreciate all the time, effort and love she poured into UAlbany and wish her all the best in her next journey. Once a Great Dane, always a Great Dane!"
 
For more information on the University at Albany women's basketball team, follow the squad's official social media accounts shown below.
 
X - @ualbanywbb
Instagram & Threads - @ualbanywbb
Facebook – facebook.com/UAlbanyWBB