Former Purdue star dies over weekend

By Ian Clift
Summer Reporter

Corissa Yasen, arguably one of the best Purdue athletes of all time and one of the first female professional basketball players, was found dead in her home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho this Saturday. Yasen was 27.

"We will have her memories for a lifetime," said Morgan Burke, Purdue Athletic Director.

"She's at the same level as Brees when it comes to competition," Burke said. "If she had continued she would have made the Olympic Games and probably won the gold metal. She's that good."

Yasen was discovered in her home by her father, Don, after her employer had informed him that she had missed two days of work without notice. A coroner's report from Spokane County is due today.

Yasen was the most valuable player in women's track and field all four of her years at Purdue. During her freshman year she earned her first-team All-America honors for her fourth place finish in the NCAA indoor high jump competition. She was the top freshman finisher that year.

She was a nine-time All-American and 10-time Big Ten champion. In the 1994-95 and 1995-96 school years she was Purdue's Female Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior. She was also a Big Ten Metal of Honor winner as well as Big Ten Athlete of the Year.

Under Head Women's Track coach Ben Paolillo, Yasen became Purdue's first NCAA track and field champion for winning the seven-event heptathlon. Yasen is the most decorated track and field athlete in Purdue history.

She also joined the Purdue women's basketball program, as a starter, during her final year of eligibility. She went on to play in the first year of the WNBA in 1997 with Sacramento.

Yasen was the assistant coach for the West Lafayette High School girl’s basketball team when they won the state championship in 1998. Steve Dietrich, coach for the high school team and a captain for the Purdue Police Department, said, "She was very close to some of the girls who played for West Lafayette and I know they will miss her."

Yasen will be remembered as professional and competitive said Dietrich. "She was a very competent and capable person," he said. "You could tell that she wasn't used to losing."

She was quoted in the 1996-97 Purdue basketball yearbook as saying, "Take advantage of every opportunity. You rarely get a second chance."

Born Dec. 5 1973 in Omaha, Neb., Corissa Lee Yasen graduated from Purdue with a degree in Pharmacy in 1998 and was one of the greatest athletes in Purdue history. Funeral arrangements are still pending.

Former Purdue star dies over weekend

Tulsa edges Purdue in NCAA regional golf tourney

Purdue baseball team splits doubleheader with Iowa

SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 251

Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org