Kevin Young aims to transform BYU into a place where talented players have a path to the NBA.
Young, the newly appointed head basketball coach at BYU, intends to utilize his NBA background and expertise in player development to establish Provo as a source of NBA prospects while also building a consistently successful program in the Big 12.
This vision was a key point Young emphasized when he met with the current roster, which has already seen several key players enter the transfer portal since Mark Pope departed to coach Kentucky.
“These players are eager to improve,” Young stated. “That’s been clear since our discussions. They’re eager to improve and are looking for specific guidance on how to achieve that.”
Young brings substantial experience to BYU, having served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons before joining the Suns in 2020. He was subsequently promoted to associate head coach in 2021.
His appointment at BYU was unexpected, as Young had no previous connections to the program before being hired to succeed Pope. He had neither played for nor coached the Cougars before this season.
Young acknowledged that he’s facing a unique challenge, but he’s fully embracing it with enthusiasm. “I’ve been doing what I do for a long time,” Young stated. “Shifting gears and learning a whole new system has energized me.”
Before joining BYU, Young seemed to be heading in a different direction in basketball. He had interviewed for head coaching positions with several NBA teams in recent years, which made it seem like he would soon shed the assistant coach role.
So, seeing Young take on this role at BYU instead of in the NBA was unexpected. However, the Cougars had identified Young as their top choice right from the beginning after Mark Pope left.
“Kevin wasn’t someone who just appeared out of nowhere,” said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. “We had been keeping an eye on him for quite some time. It’s been impressive to see all that he has achieved at the NBA level.”
Young will continue coaching with the Suns during the NBA Playoffs before joining BYU full-time. For now, he will split his time between Phoenix and Provo.
His immediate goals with the Cougars include keeping current players at BYU, reaching out to potential recruits, and putting together a coaching staff.
