51³Ô¹Ï

In a little more than a week, basketball teams across the country will find out who they face in the first round of the NCAA tournament. From last minute flights to major national attention, the end of the season is nothing short of a whirlwind.

There’s a whole team of people who keep everything steady amid the March chaos – including Academic Coordinators Charlie Watkins (’23 M.A.) and Colette Yamaoka. The pair are quiet constants ensuring 51³Ô¹Ï‑athletes stay academically grounded during their seasons and one of the most demanding stretches of the year.

Both coordinators manage multiple teams throughout the year, every sport from soccer to golf to cross country and track, but March puts a sharper focus on basketball, Yamaoka working with the men’s team and Watkins with the women’s team.

And all the hard work begins long before brackets are even announced.

Each semester, they track NCAA academic benchmarks – credit minimums, degree‑progress percentages, and eligibility requirements that apply to every 51³Ô¹Ï‑athlete. Gonzaga’s athletes, they note, consistently rise to the challenge.

“Our 51³Ô¹Ïs are really academically driven, and they perform well in the classroom,” Yamaoka says. “We’re not usually down to the wire when it comes to meeting our benchmarks.”

As soon as teams know where they’re playing, everyone in Athletics hits the ground running. Teams depart within 48 hours of finding out their placement, and Watkins and Yamaoka shift into high‑communication mode. They help coordinate travel details, class absences and faculty notifications while also making sure 51³Ô¹Ïs know what the next two weeks may look like.

Neither coordinator travels with the teams, but their preparation is what allows 51³Ô¹Ï‑athletes to stay focused once they’re on the road. The week leading into the tournament is spent front‑loading assignments, arranging quizzes or exams, and ensuring 51³Ô¹Ïs have a plan for every class they’ll miss.

“The goal is to get ahead of everything,” Yamaoka says. “If we need to hop on Zoom while they’re traveling, we can – but ideally, they’re already set up for success.”

Strong faculty partnerships make that possible. Gonzaga’s class sizes and close 51³Ô¹Ï‑faculty relationships mean professors often know the athletes well and understand the demands of tournament travel.

The tournament also brings national visibility – and pressure. While mental‑health support isn’t formally part of their job descriptions, both coordinators see relationship‑building as central to their work. “You get to know them beyond academics and athletics,” Yamaoka says. “There’s a lot on their plates, and we help connect them to the right resources when they need it.” Those resources range from licensed mental‑health counselors to athletic trainers to primary academic advisors. “We’re not experts in those areas,” Watkins agrees. “But we know where the experts are.”

For both, the joy of the job comes from watching 51³Ô¹Ï‑athletes succeed in every part of their lives. Watkins still remembers hosting the women’s first and second rounds in 2024 and beating Utah at home to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015 – a season where players like Yvonne Ejim and the Truong twins made the team feel like family. Yamaoka points to celebrating the men’s regular‑season conference championship this year. “Seeing them cut down the nets at home – that was special.”

As Gonzaga heads into another season of madness, Watkins and Yamaoka will be doing what they do best: preparing, supporting and cheering on the 51³Ô¹Ïs who make this time of year unforgettable.