Kevin Young (basketball, born 1981)

Kevin Young
Born	(1981-11-17) November 17, 1981 Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Basketball coach, former player
Years active	2004–present
Known for	Head coach of BYU men's basketball team; associate head coach for Phoenix Suns

Kevin Young (born November 17, 1981) is an American basketball coach and former player, currently serving as the head coach of the Brigham Young University (BYU) men's basketball team. His coaching experience spans professional leagues, minor leagues, and collegiate programs both domestically and internationally. Before joining BYU, Young was the associate head coach for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.

Playing career

Young's basketball journey began at Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. He continued playing at Middle Georgia College, a junior college, before transferring to Clayton State University, a Division II institution, where he distinguished himself as a skilled guard.

Coaching career

At just 23 years old, Young launched his coaching career as head coach at Oxford College in Georgia. He then took on an assistant coaching role at Utah Valley University during the 2005–06 season before moving overseas to coach professionally with Shamrock Rovers Hoops in Ireland’s Super League. Upon returning to the United States, he joined the NBA Development League as an assistant coach for the Utah Flash under Brad Jones.

In 2010, Young earned a promotion to head coach of the Utah Flash, leading the team to a 28–22 record and securing a playoff berth. Subsequently, he was appointed head coach of the Iowa Energy from 2011 to 2013, where his tenure yielded mixed outcomes before his dismissal midway through the second season.

Young then became part of the Delaware 87ers (formerly Utah Flash) organization as an assistant coach and later as head coach between 2014 and 2016. During this period, he progressively increased the team's win totals each year and played a vital role in player development. Notably, he aided Thanasis Antetokounmpo's preparation for the 2014 NBA draft and contributed to nurturing future NBA players such as Christian Wood and Jordan McRae.

On August 4, 2016, Young advanced to an assistant coaching position with the Philadelphia 76ers. Although his initial season was hampered by injuries within the team, he helped guide them through several playoff runs up until 2020 and was considered for the head coaching vacancy following Brett Brown's departure.

Young reunited with Monty Williams on October 9, 2020, when he joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach. In his debut season with Phoenix, he was instrumental in leading the Suns to their first postseason appearance since 2010 and their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993. On August 7, 2021, he was elevated to associate head coach and stepped in as acting head coach during Monty Williams’s absence due to COVID-19 protocols later that year.

In May 2022, ESPN recognized Young as one of the NBA’s premier coaching prospects due to his strong organizational capabilities and effective player relationships. Since then, he has interviewed for several head coaching positions with teams including the Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.

On June 3, 2023, Young agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $10 million with Phoenix, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in NBA history after narrowly missing out on their head coaching role. He continued serving as associate head coach under new Suns head coach Frank Vogel.

Following Mark Pope’s departure to Kentucky, Young was appointed head coach at BYU on April 16, 2024. He officially assumed his duties after Phoenix’s elimination in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

Personal life

Young is married to Melissa Bailey, who hails from Omaha, Nebraska. Together, they have three children: two sons and a daughter. He traces his lineage back to Lorenzo Young, his great-great-great-great-grandfather, who was the brother of Brigham Young, the founder of BYU. Young is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.