DePauw Stories

Felix Yau was recruited to DePauw as a student-athlete, graduating in 2001 with a degree in political science. Now he goes by “Coach Felix” as he coaches youth and high school soccer for Carmel High School and Hoosier Futbol Club.

DePauw, he says, instilled in him the importance of community service, and coaching is how he chooses to give back to his community.

“The camaraderie and leadership opportunities from playing on a sports team helped me become the person I am today,” he says. “The things you learn and experience through playing sports are lessons you can take into your personal and professional life.”

Yau highlights those aspects of college sports for his players, and also encourages them to consider attending DePauw, which “opens somebody up and helps them blossom and be successful,” he says.

 “Two professors in particular pushed me and changed my way of thinking,” he says. “Nafhat Nasr, my adviser, and Sunil Sahu helped me think outside the box and challenged me to look at every situation from various angles, to see different viewpoints. Now I don’t just take one opinion or one viewpoint to make the best decisions in my personal life and in coaching soccer; I know to consider various angles.” 

“Two professors in particular pushed me and changed my way of thinking,” he says. “Nafhat Nasr, my adviser, and Sunil Sahu helped me think outside the box and challenged me to look at every situation from various angles, to see different viewpoints. Now I don’t just take one opinion or one viewpoint to make the best decisions in my personal life and in coaching soccer; I know to consider various angles.”

His fraternity, Phi Psi, also was an important part of his DePauw experience, and he gathers with his fraternity class at least once a year. “Because of DePauw, I have friends from all over the United States and the world. My DePauw experience has really helped me be successful in life.”

He intended to go to law school, but decided instead to enter the workforce. He was selected as a Governor’s Fellow and worked for Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon, then for the Indiana Department of Commerce and the Criminal Justice Institute. He moved to the private sector at Quest Environmental and Safety Products and did IT recruiting for BCforward before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he is a safety and cleanroom sales specialist. “Every position that I have held has had some sort of DePauw connection. The DePauw alumni network is second to none,” he says.

Yau contributes financially to the Tiger Club for DePauw Athletics, the John Carter Fund and The Fund for DePauw’s student financial support category. He is a member of the Washington C. DePauw Annual Society. “I want any child to have the opportunity to attend DePauw, no matter if they can or cannot afford it, because I think the advantage of a liberal arts education is hard to duplicate,” he says. 

He also volunteers as a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Indianapolis Regional Alumni Association and the Class of 2001 Alumni Reunion Committee. He is a class agent for the Class of 2001, a position in which he is “a liaison between the Development and Alumni Engagement Office and my classmates. I keep my classmates abreast of what’s happening on campus, alumni events and also encourage them to give back through volunteering and The Fund for DePauw.”