For Edison High School’s softball coaches, the game is about more than just points and scorecards. They work to create a long-lasting impact in their players’ lives, much like they received when they were players themselves.
For Assistant Coach Ms. Tatiana Yourstone ‘16, softball has shaped almost every aspect of her life.
“Softball has been a huge part of my whole life,” she said. “I grew up playing at Edison High and continued in college. It shaped not only my athletic ability but my work ethic.”
Inspired by the coaches who mentored her growing up, Yourstone wanted to carry that guidance to the next generation.
As a physical education teacher at EHS, coaching feels like a natural extension of her interactions with her students. The same skills she uses to connect with students carry over onto the softball field. Understanding that every student has a unique learning style helps her adjust her coaching style to different athletes’ needs.
“In a classroom, I focus on communication, relationship building, and creating a positive learning environment, which are the same things I apply to coaching,” she said.
Central to Yourstone’s coaching is her general philosophy surrounding individual growth over results. While she values competition, she believes success is about more than just the number of wins. She claims that her athletes “compete to win”, but that is not everything to her. Instead, she wants her team to focus on steady improvement and unwavering effort. Her ultimate goal is for players to end the season more confident and prepared to handle challenges both on and off the field.
“Athletes should focus on improving every day, giving a consistent effort, and wanting to learn from their mistakes,” she said.
Head Coach Ms. Marlynn Muldowney followed an unconventional, yet equally meaningful, path into coaching. The daughter of legendary EHS baseball coach Mr. Jim Muldowney, she began by “starting with just private lessons, group lessons.” When she began teaching, a coaching opportunity opened at the same time.
“The timing just worked out,” she said.
Balancing teaching and athletics is demanding, but Muldowney grew from her own experiences as a student-athlete. Throughout high school, Coach was well-versed in basketball, soccer, and softball, but later pursued being a collegiate softball player at URI, where she truly learned organization and discipline. “Time management has always been a big part of my life,” she said. Those skills now help her manage the responsibilities of both the classroom and the field.
Looking ahead, Muldowney sees a vision in the team’s development. Though the program is mostly full of upperclassmen, she believes the younger students bring a new outlook and opportunities for the team. With many underclassmen stepping into larger roles, the team is focused on working its way up in the league and competing with top schools.
“The future is always bright,” said Muldowney.
Together, both coaches represent what goes on behind the benches. Their leadership, rooted in experience and passion, is a commitment to helping student-athletes grow far beyond what is visible at the games.
