June 14, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University women's golf coach, Mickey Yokoi, who recently finished his first year as head coach of the women's golf program, is resigning to become assistant coach for the ASU men's golf program, Associate Director of Athletics Don Bocchi announced Friday.
"I look forward to once again working with Coach Randy Lein and the Sun Devil men's golf program to maintain a national power at ASU," Yokoi said. "To remain in alignment with my personal goals, I wanted to re-direct my career. It is in the best interest of both programs for me to make this switch as soon as possible so that both teams can be ready for the 2002-03 season."
Bocchi and former ASU coaching legend Linda Vollstedt will assist the Intercollegiate Athletics Board in the search for the new coach. Vollstedt is currently the Director of Development for Olympic Sports in the ASU athletic department.
"A national search will begin immediately," Bocchi said. "We expect to create tremendous interest within the golf community as we search for a head coach for perhaps the premier women's golf program in college athletics. Linda's expertise and knowledge of the program and industry will be invaluable in our search."
Yokoi was named the head coach of the women's program in August of 2001 and led the Sun Devils to top 10 finishes in all 12 tournaments this season, including their first top 10 showing since 1999 at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Yokoi had spent the previous five seasons as the assistant coach of the ASU men's program.