New BYU Basketball Coach Kevin Young Shares Vision for Program

New BYU basketball coach Kevin Young shares his vision for the program

In a recent podcast appearance on ‘College Hoops Today’, new BYU basketball coach Kevin Young shared his thoughts on his new role, the state of college basketball, and his vision for the program.

“I probably would have not believed them, but we’re excited that it came together,” Young said when asked about becoming the head coach at BYU.

Young discussed how he initially made contact with BYU four or five years ago when Mark Pope originally got the job. He also talked about how he was interviewing for NBA head coaching jobs when BYU called him about the vacancy.

Navigating the New Landscape of College Basketball

Young was asked about navigating the new landscape of college basketball, including NIL and the transfer portal. He stated that he doesn’t know the old state of college basketball, so he’s not concerned about the changes.

“I’ve heard other people talk about the state of college basketball right now. I mean, the thing for me is I don’t know the old state of college basketball. I don’t know the pre-portal days. I don’t know the pre-NIL days. So that honestly was not something that really concerned me all that much.”

Balancing Work and Family Life

Young, a father of three young children, discussed the importance of balancing his work and family life. He consulted with friends who have made the transition from the NBA to college coaching and did extensive research on the topic.

“I think you just have to be intentional about the time you’re able to spend with your family versus the time you’re able to spend at work, and then hopefully we can strike the right balance here.”

Juggling NBA Playoff Responsibilities with Early Duties at BYU

Young talked about the challenges of juggling his NBA playoff responsibilities with his early duties at BYU. He prioritized getting players who were in the portal to come back to BYU and hiring staff, including Brandon Dunson, who has been an “unbelievable addition”.

On the Current Roster and Recruiting

Young expressed his excitement about the current roster, citing their experience and shooting ability. He also discussed his recruiting strategy, stating that they’re trying to add pieces around the current players that will give them more athleticism and pop.

“We feel good about the direction we’re headed, but just trying to get a couple different things to the finish line and ultimately get these guys on campus and get to work.”

On His Preferred Offensive Style

Young discussed his preferred offensive style, stating that he wants to play a fast brand of basketball, attack the rim, and shoot 3s. He also talked about the importance of spacing and pace of play.

“We want to flow into our offense, into our five-out offense, putting pressure on the rim with our bigs rolling and having a lot of shooting around that and letting guys make plays in space and make quick decisions with the basketball.”

On the Marriott Center Atmosphere

Young expressed his excitement about the rowdy Marriott Center atmosphere, stating that it’s one of the coolest experiences he’s seen at the college level.

“We’re making sure our recruits are well aware of is the environment they’re walking into and the home court advantage that we have. It’s a really unique thing.”

On Competing in the Big 12

Young discussed the challenges of competing in the Big 12, stating that every night is a dog fight. He expressed his excitement about the level of talent in the conference and the opportunity to coach at the highest level.

“I think that’s also a really big piece on the recruiting front. I’m learning that the players feel the same way. They want to play at the highest level, just like I want to coach at the highest level.”

On His Vision for BYU Basketball

Young shared his vision for BYU basketball, stating that they offer a unique situation in Provo. He emphasized the importance of player development and helping players get to the NBA.

“We feel like we offer a really unique situation in Provo. Obviously, me and a few of the coaches I’m bringing in have pro backgrounds, and the reason I’m saying that is because player development is going to be a massive part of what we do is we try to help not just guys get to the NBA, but guys stay at BYU because they know they’re going to get better while they’re there.”

Kevin Young shares his vision for BYU basketball