Cotie McMahon continues to help build a powerhouse in Oxford.
How does she do it?
She is Coach Yo’, AKA Yolett McPhee-McCuin.
It is a lot of things.
Since Yo’ got to Oxford almost a decade ago, she has done exactly what she sat out to do: Turn Ole Miss women’s basketball into a national power. The Rebels have now advanced to five consecutive NCAA Tournaments and a couple of Sweet 16s.
The program has arrived in the minds of the young women who play this game.
Just take a listen to what Rebel Cotie McMahon had to say about her experience at Ole Miss after transferring to Oxford from Ohio State. McMahon was a first-round draft pick in the WNBA Draft earlier this week.
“Honestly, it just took me to buy into Coach Yo’s system,” McMahon told ESPN’s Holly Rowe following the draft,” and her believing in me. And her letting me know that she’s going to push me, but I just have to be ready for it and be ready for the role that she’s giving me.”
McMahon was pushed and prevailed. She went on.
“Me and Coach Yo’ made a promise to each other. We were going to help each other do whatever it took to succeed. She promised me a successful season. I promised her a successful season. Everything that I did was not only for me but for my team, and my coaching staff, but also for the university as a whole, the program as a whole. Coach Yo’ is wanting to build and I feel like I’m only helping her,” McMahon related.
With McMahon a piece of it, the Rebels 2025 portal class was considered the best in the nation by several outlets.
Now, Yo’ is at it again. She has already taken signatures from a pair of Lady Vols and four other top transfers, including McDonald’s All-American Jaida Civil on Thursday morning.
AND SHE IS NOT DONE.
And words like that…from McMahon…at the pinnacle event of her sport…only helps Coach Yo’ in continuing to build a national title contender at Ole Miss.
We can’t wait to next year.