BYU Basketball hires Kevin Young as their new Head Coach after Mark Pope takes the job at Kentucky. Kevin Young was the assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns and the highest-paid assistant in the NBA.
Coaching Career
Phoenix Suns Assistant 2020-present
Philadelphia Sixers HC (2018-2019) Assistant ( 2016-2019)
Delaware 87ers HC 2014-2016
Iowa Wolverines HC 2011-2013
Utah Flash HC ( 2010-2011) Assistant ( 2008-2011)
What He Can Do for the Cougars
Kevin Young has spent many years in the NBA and the NBA G league he will be a great asset for the Cougars. Young is joining BYU Basketball after spending time with the Suns and being the highest-paid assistant in the NBA. This means a lot for BYU and Cougar Nation he will bring in talent. BYU will see more talent right out of high school but will also see many turn into stars after their time with Young and the Coaching staff he will bring in.
These players will no longer look past BYU as an option and will also want to not just use BYU as a one-season stint in college basketball anymore. For BYU this will also mean retaining recruits and players who just entered the transfer portal to change schools after Mark Pope left. Hopefully Young can get back two of the three who entered the transfer and not lose them to Kentucky or another big-time basketball school.
Assistant Coaches
BYU will have some talent a the coaching side of the ball as well with all the places Young has worked over the years he knows some great coaches and will hopefully persuade them to come to BYU. He will hopefully also keep some talent that is already at BYU and that will also help him keep some more players on the roster from last year.
Finally, he will continue to build a championship team and work towards winning the Big 12 and taking the Cougars back to the NCAA tournament more often. He does have his work cut out for him as he will work with the Suns until the Suns are done with the NBA Championship. This is a big win for BYU and will serve them for years to come.
BYU Statements
Tom Holmoe AD
“We are excited to announce Kevin as our new head men’s basketball coach and welcome him and his family to BYU,” Holmoe said. “We had a variety of excellent candidates and a lot of interest in this position. Kevin is someone we have had our eye on for a while. He has risen to the top of NBA assistant coaching ranks. He has been a lead candidate for NBA head coaching jobs and has been instrumental in developing top-level NBA talent. Kevin will bring a new perspective, with an extensive NBA background to our program. He is a phenomenal fit at BYU. He is humble, fun, and super intelligent. Cougar Nation is going to love getting to know Kevin.”