From YIS Athlete to YIS Coach: A Full Circle Journey

By Jonah Reynolds, Marketing & Communications Coordinator & HS/MS Volleyball Coach, MS Basketball Coach

Over a decade ago, I was a middle school student at YIS figuring things out — enjoying my classes, making lasting friendships, and falling in love with sport. Between 2009 and 2011, I proudly represented YIS as a middle school athlete in basketball, soccer & cross country. Back then, I couldn’t have imagined that one day I’d be standing on the sidelines not as a player, but as a coach.

Those early years at YIS were foundational for me. I still remember the butterflies before my first game, the echo of sneakers in the gym, and the feeling of walking onto the field in a YIS jersey. It wasn’t just about the sport—it was about teamwork, growth, and learning how to push myself. Those experiences gave me confidence, resilience, and a strong sense of community for the rest of my life.
 

Now, in the 2024–2025 school year, I’ve come full circle. I’ve returned to YIS as the Marketing & Communications Coordinator but also as a coach, and it’s surreal to be back. This time, helping guide and inspire students who are exactly where I once was. Coaching here means everything to me. It's a chance to give back to a school and a program that shaped so much of who I am.
 

What I love most is seeing that same spark in today’s student-athletes—their drive, their passion, and the friendships they’re forming through sport. My passion as a coach isn’t just to develop skills on the court, but to help students become confident, kind, and committed both in and out of the game so they can take those experiences and apply them to life.

To all current YIS students: your journey is just beginning. Whether you’re playing your first game, learning a new skill, or discovering what you’re passionate about—embrace it. These moments, this community, and these experiences will stay with you long after you leave. Sport has the power to teach you so much more than technique or tactics—it teaches you how to show up, how to lead, how to fail and come back stronger, but most importantly how to work for something that matters to you.
 

Coming back to YIS has been deeply meaningful. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support our students, carry forward the legacy of what sport at YIS represents, and hopefully be a part of the moments they'll remember a decade from now—just like I do.

Once a Dragon, always a Dragon.