Michelle York
Michelle York had been, in her own words, “truly, the epitome of a tomboy” growing up with a pair of older brothers who offered little to no let-up in those family sports affairs.
Rather than be daunted, York was inspired to compete.
And, compete she did. York played basketball, softball and volleyball as well as competed in track growing in the Memphis area.
Eventually, it led her to a path as a Power Conference collegiate athlete and into a career spent in service of young people through high school sports and administration.
Now the athletics director at St. George’s Independent School in Memphis, York also is a 2024-25 TSSAA Distinguished Service Award for her enduring contributions to high school athletics in Tennessee.
“Wow, I am so undeserving and very shocked and honored,” said York, who arrived at St. George’s a couple years after parts of four years at Nashville’s Lipscomb Academy. “I have really fond memories of competing in basketball, volleyball, softball and track; I tried my hand at pretty much everything they offered.”
As she entered into her senior year as a two-sport standout at Skyview Academy, York had scholarship offers in both basketball and volleyball. The basketball team’s leading score, she had been expected to choose the hardwood; she opted for volleyball in a decision that York recognized both changed her life and charted the path for her to dedicate her career to helping to influence and impact the lives of future generations.
A particular early-college hardship as she departed Mississippi State and ultimately became an Ole Miss graduate helped York gain a patient perspective she has harnessed to her present-day work.
“A couple of key things happened for me, personally,” York said. “I started my career at Mississippi State, played one semester, started as a freshman, then they had coaching change right before I was heading into my freshman year. It just really wasn't the overall experience I was looking for and I ended up transferring to Ole Miss.”
Pre-NCAA Transfer Portal and pre-athlete empowerment, York wasn’t fully explained the intraconference transfer rules of the SEC. After playing volleyball in the fall of her first-ever college semester, she did not get to a play again for two years because of the SEC’s transfer rule that forced her to sit out for 18 months.
“You could either feel bad for yourself and get down or grow and learn,” she said. “I had the opportunity to sit on the bench and learn from coaches from a coaching perspective, and I think it made me a much better player when I did start competing again.
“It also gave me that passion for wanting to teach. I actually started doing camps during my college career across the United States, traveled many places and conducted camps. (College coach John Blair) gave me the opportunity to go to grad school, work with the team, and I fell in love with coaching and really realized the avenue … so many of us think it's about the sport and winning of the game, but I just remember that light-bulb moment of the people God was placing in my life, that I could make an impact.”
York, who helped co-found the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association during a 16-year run at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis, has been engaged as an active member of the Tennessee Interscholastic Athletics Association since 2022.
She’s found that element very much a passion project.
“My TIAAA involvement, I think a couple of things: I think there's just been from my earliest memories a desire to pursue excellence and the responsibilities that come with that, and also the importance of impact,” said York, a TIAAA board member. “What impact one life can have on another. I know that was important to me and the impact my coaches had and difference they made and so just the honor and privilege with that.”
It’s why York seeks daily to operate with two quotes guiding her philosophy:
“I think my two life quotes would be: ‘Autograph your work with excellence,’” York said. “And: ‘They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.’
“For me, whether that's with student-athletes as a volleyball coach or with coaches and I'm the athletic director or work with ADs in the TIAAA, if that's your focus and you want to lead a life of service, I think you look for opportunities like TIAAA or TSSAA or church. It’s just always been important that whatever I do, I want to make sure I do it ultimately for the glory of God and that it makes a difference for people.”
TSSAA proudly salutes Michelle York for her many years of contributions to student athletes in Tennessee.
