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After spending the 2020-21 season as the interim director of operations, Yolanda (Richardson) Swain had the interim tag removed from her title on April 16, 2021 and was officially named the Rockets' director of operations.
"I'm very honored and excited to step into this position full time as the Director of Operations," Swain said. "I am grateful to Mike O'Brien, Kelly Andrews, and Coach Cullop for this opportunity and cannot wait to continue to give back to the program that has given me an amazing four years as a player. I look forward to many new memories and fun times ahead with the staff and players."
A four-year letterwinner for the Midnight Blue & Gold from 2009-13, Swain is part of the winningest class in program history, helping the Rockets post a 107-31 (.775) overall ledger and an even better 54-10 (.844) Mid-American Conference mark. She played a big role in Toledo winning the 2011 Postseason WNIT championship, as well as securing two MAC regular-season titles (2010-11, 2012-13) and four-consecutive division crowns (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13).
"We are thrilled to have Yolanda on our staff," head coach Tricia Cullop said. "Not only was she a talented player for our program, but she is also a part of our most successful class in school history. She worked extremely hard this past season in the interim role of Director of Operations and has earned this opportunity."
Swain currently litters the Toledo record book, sitting first in career rejections (213), tied for second in games played (136), fourth in overall field-goal percentage (.566, 490-of-866, minimum 500 attempts), ninth in overall rebounds (782) and 28th in scoring (1,062). She also ranks sixth (.624, 161-of-258, 2011-12) and tied for eighth (.586, 146-of-249, 2012-13) in overall field-goal percentage in a season, along with second (70, 2011-12), third (52, 2009-10), fourth (49, 2010-11) and eighth (42, 2012-13) in blocked shots.
Swain became the first UToledo recruit from the Toledo City League since Whitmer’s Kim Bradley in 1993. She scored in double figures on 45 occasions as a Rocket and posted 11 double-doubles, earning second-team All-MAC accolades each of her final two years. She also swatted at least three shots 29 times over her four seasons in the “Glass City.”
A 2012-13 Academic All-MAC recipient, Swain graduated from UToledo with a backelor’s degree in recreational therapy in 2013.
Swain comes to Toledo after working as a service & support specialist for the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities from 2016-20. She served as a trouble-shooter, problem-solver and an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and helped them reach their full potential.
Prior to working at the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Swain was a correction officer for the Lucas County Work Release program from 2015-16. She also spent time as a team supervisor for Creative Living Services in 2013-14, working with people with developmental disabilities. Swain delivered homemaker personal care services, medical and non-medical transportation, vocational habilitation, and adult day services.
Swain and her husband Ben have two daughters, Justice (3) and Eshe (born on Aug. 5), and a son, Xavier (6).
