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With a successful playing background and experience as an elite coach in Kentucky, Terry Yeast was well-known to Kentucky high school enthusiasts prior to his arrival in Winchester. 

Speaking and introducing himself to the Rotary Club of Winchester at a recent meeting, Yeast recounted how programs have seen success since being hired as George Rogers Clark High School’s athletic director for the 2023-24 school year and what hopes and aspirations he has for the future of Cardinal athletics. 

“I’m excited about working with the Clark County community,” Yeast said. “I appreciate everyone being so supportive.” 

Yeast grew up a football star and eventually played at Morehead State University. 

Later, he became well-known for his coaching track and field accomplishments at Mercer County High School. 

When he first took the job, Yeast – the father of three daughters, including current multi-sport GRC athlete Teigh Yeast and current Marshall University basketball player Timberlynn Yeast – was commuting from Harrodsburg. 

However, as work demands required and community interest grew, plans soon changed. 

“I now have an apartment where my daughter and I stay. We typically go home on the weekend,” he said. “I wanted the opportunity to truly get engaged in Winchester and Clark County, so I thought that was really important to kind of make that move.” 

In year one, as athletic director of George Rogers Clark High School, numerous team accomplishments were achieved. 

Among them were regional championships in boys’ basketball, girls’ soccer, and girls’ tennis, district championships in boys’ soccer, boys’ basketball, and girls’ volleyball, and a national championship in bass fishing. 

State qualifiers were achieved in both boys’ and girls’ swimming and wrestling—in only the program’s second year. 

Track and field enjoyed a successful year, with Teigh Yeast and the recently graduated Joey Hill winning state championships in the triple jump. 

For the first time in nearly a decade, the boys’ golf team sent several players to the state tournament in Bowling Green and finished sixth overall in the Commonwealth. 

Several athletes won individual honors – including Governor Scholar winner Jones Howard of the GRC football team – and many others, such as former GRC volleyball player Kelsey McKeehan and golf athlete Jacob Settles, earned scholarships to continue their athletic endeavors at the collegiate level. 

Yet the goal of being an athletic director goes beyond athletic accomplishments. 

“Relations are important to me [as is] making sure everybody knows who I am and that I get to know who they are as we move forward,” Yeast said. “I’ve been working on a leadership program with young people so that when they leave Clark County, they can be ready [for success].” 

For the future, Yeast also hopes to see connections between the high school and what other youth programs are doing. 

“The focus this year has been family first,” he said. “[We’re] trying to bridge our RDC and GRC programs and our coaching.” 

Some changes are also being made when attending events. 

“This year, we have gone completely cashless,” he said. “I’m excited that this year…everyone will be committed to using GoFan online. We’ve created season passes for fall sports, and we will do one for our winter sports, and then another for spring sports.”

Plus, fans can expect new names among the coaching staff. 

For example, Haley Snell takes over as the new dance coach, Braden Powell and William Contreras take over as the boys’ and girls’ soccer coaches, respectively, and Matt Puckett comes over from Montgomery County High School to coach the girls’ softball team. 

The latter led his team to a 10th Region Championship last season. 

Yeast expressed enthusiasm that fans would continue supporting the programs in several ways. 

“We’re always looking for businesses that want to start a partnership with Clark County athletics,” he said. “Thank you all for listening, and if there’s anything I can do from the athletic side…feel free to let me know.”