Bio

All-American Lady Tiger basketball player enters Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame

One of the top-scoring threats in the history of the Cowley College women’s basketball program will be honored as Elena Yankova will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 28.

Yankova was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She began practicing at the age of 12 in the oldest Club team in Sofia, called Slavia. In high school, her Club team won silver and bronze medals.

Yankova had a friend who played for Cowley College women’s basketball head coach Todd Clark, who had a great experience. So, Yankova decided to come to the United States and play basketball for the Lady Tigers.

“Coach Clark is very demanding as far as getting things done on and off the court,” Yankova said. “The academic results are a huge point in his program. He takes care of each player and makes sure everyone stays focused on school. His work ethic is remarkable. On the court everything is very well organized. I can say it was harder during practice than during game time, because he had already prepared us for the battle before it starts. Coach Clark respects each player and make sure everyone has a role in his team, so we all can be involved and ready to play.”

In her first year at Cowley, Yankova was named the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division Women's Freshman of the Year after averaging 14 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

“Elena came into the program and made us better,” Clark said. “She was not only a good basketball player, she was a really good person. Her teammates really liked her.”

As a sophomore, she helped Cowley win 12 of its final 13 games and finish with a record of 24-8. During her two years at Cowley, she helped the Lady Tigers win 45 games and go 28-8 in the Jayhawk East.

“The reason we were successful as a team was first of all because we were well prepared for each game,” Yankova said. “There was a good chemistry between us as well. Our confidence was building up game by game and especially when we started winning. Playing for the Lady Tigers was a pleasure even more now when I can look back and remember the atmosphere at the home games.”

Her stellar play as a sophomore earned her All-American honors as she was the second leading scorer in the Jayhawk East, with an average of 17.1 points per game.

“Elena was very deceiving as a scorer because she did not demand the ball,” Clark said. “She just knew how to score.”

After Cowley, Yankova went on to play professional basketball overseas. She began playing professional basketball in Spain before spending seven more years playing professionally in France.

“During my last few years there I worked in a high school as a student assistant,” Yankova said. “At the same time, I wanted to prepare myself for the day I will stop playing basketball, so I got a coaching degree in coaching kids aged between 10 and 15 years old. Besides that, I became a referee. I wanted to experience all the sides of the Basketball game. Refereeing at both men’s and women’s championship games was a great experience.”

At Cowley she graduated with an Associate of arts degree. After that she got her Public Administration degree from the New Bulgarian University in Sofia. Yankova is currently working for a French insurance company in the healthcare field.

Yankova, who finished her Lady Tiger career as the third all-time leading scorer in the history of the program, looks back fondly on her time at the school.

“Besides the academic and sport side of my experience at Cowley, I got the chance to be surrounded by wonderful people,” Yankova said. “I want to thank Coach Clark, Coach Katrina Colwell, my foster family Melinda and Mark Neal, my other foster family – Chris and John Clemente with whom I got the chance to spend a lot of time and share precious moments with their whole family. Words are not enough to thank the people who helped and supported me during my two years at Cowley. This is truly a special moment for me. Basketball has always been a passion and an expiration. Being recognized as a Hall of Fame member is a huge compliment. I’m really excited and want to thank everyone for this honor.”