Welcome to Kelly Corrigan Wonders.

I'm Kelly Corrigan, and today in the fifth episode of our great coaches series,

I'm wondering about what it takes to lead when everyone's happiness depends on you.

I'm joined by Yel Averbush West.

Yel is the general manager and the head of soccer operations at New Jersey, New York,

Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League.

But before that, she was a college and professional player who competed at the highest levels.

Now, she manages 26 players and over 30 employees, carrying the responsibility of knowing that

every decision she makes affects someone's precious and limited playing career.

Her perspective is unique.

She understands what it feels like to be on the receiving end of coaching decisions,

good and bad. And she's using those experiences to build an environment where people feel seen

and valued and supported even when things don't go their way. Here's my conversation with

Yael Averbush West. So this is a series about great coaches, and I am guessing you have had so many from people who were in charge of your little team, the Orange Bullets in Montclair, New Jersey, to your coaches at UNC, to the coaches you had in the league. And then now, whatever coaches

and mentors you have that are helping you in your role as a GM. So I wondered if you could

tell us a story about a coach in your early years that had a big impact on the way you play

or the way you think about the game.

Yeah, I consider myself a lifelong athlete.

And so being coached is something I'm very familiar with.

And thinking back, I now recognize how wonderfully blessed I've been with amazing coaches.

I would be remiss to not talk about my dad in this context.

I still call him coach sometimes. He has been a life coach

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