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For three decades, Sheryl Yeary was a cornerstone of the Connecticut College Department of Physical Education and Athletics. A tireless pioneer in her field, she taught and coached several sports and fitness activities, while holding administrative and leadership positions within the department.
 
Yeary came to the college in 1970 as a department instructor and later became a tenured associate professor of physical education. Over the years, she taught several racquet sports activities classes as well as a four-credit fitness/wellness course. She also coordinated the P.E. program administratively for many years.
 
Although her coaching philosophy focused more on team and individual growth rather than win-loss record, Yeary’s teams were successful in defeating opponents. She stands out for having not only coached three intercollegiate sports (tennis, squash and volleyball), but also posting overall winning percentages in all three. Her combined career coaching record at the college was 329-281.
 
Yeary led the women’s tennis program from infancy, posting a 178-153 mark in 28 seasons. Her squads ranked among the top 10 in New England for seven consecutive years from 1982-88. In 1987, Yeary started the women’s squash program and led the Camels to a 101-95 record in 11 seasons of competition. Also the college’s volleyball coach in the early years of the program, Yeary led the team to a 50-33 mark in the 1970s. In addition, she coached the men’s tennis team in its early years.
 
As a player, Yeary had many achievements of her own. She won the Texas state singles championship as a high school senior. While at the University of Texas-Austin, where she earned a B.S. in physical education in 1966, Yeary was the three-time Texas state intercollegiate singles champion. While living in southeastern Connecticut, she earned regional and national age-group rankings in singles and doubles, including number one ratings at 35+ and 45+ singles.
 
After earning her master’s degree in physical education from the University of Massachusetts in 1971, Yeary continued as a lifelong learner, taking numerous courses and clinics in the areas of addictive studies and nutrition. She retired from Connecticut College in 2001 after 30 years of dedicated and unwavering service.