‘BYU got a good one.’
That’s the talk across the country as NBA and college basketball programs found out that BYU hired Kevin Young to be its next head coach. After a painful week with Coach Pope off to Kentucky and players going into the transfer portal, BYU fans finally got some good news as the program got arguably the best candidate that was available.
Coach Young is currently the top assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns and is also the highest-paid assistant coach in the league. He comes to Provo with a plethora of NBA coaching experience and was one of the favorites to take over several open positions in the league.
ESPN Sources: Phoenix Suns associate HC Kevin Young is finalizing a long-term deal to become the next coach at Brigham Young University. An aggressive push to hire NBA’s highest paid assistant lands BYU its top target. pic.twitter.com/yRGJb7yHPd
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 16, 2024
“Kevin is someone we have had our eye on for a while,” BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said in a statement. “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.”
Throughout his in the NBA, Young has worked with stars such as Devin Booker, Kevin Durrant, and Joel Embiid to name a few.
Adjusting to college basketball will be an adjustment, so getting experienced assistant coaches will be key for Coach Young.
Here’s how the sports world reacted to the news:
Cougar Nation — Couldn’t be more excited for Kevin Young to lead the next era of BYU Basketball!
Let’s take it to the next level! https://t.co/PZyXjaAFjg
— Tom Holmoe (@TomHolmoe) April 16, 2024
The real question Ry is do they let him keep his beard??
— Kyle Van Noy (@KVN_03) April 16, 2024
See you soon🫡 pic.twitter.com/7xDKZ88N9P
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) April 17, 2024
you’re always welcome to visit KYU @DevinBook 😏 pic.twitter.com/pIPMgYHrnw
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) April 17, 2024
Really, really interested to see the staff that new BYU head coach Kevin Young puts together.
Kevin has a major advantage over NBA guys going into college. His brother is Justin Young – who has been in this arena for 20-plus years as a recruiting analyst and now an event…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 17, 2024
A guy named Smith helped a guy named Young replace a Pope https://t.co/v7wFBxVbVU
— Joe Cooprider (@joecooprider) April 16, 2024
Seems like universal praise for new @BYUMBB coach, Kevin Young. His credentials speak for themselves & he knows the Cougars culture well. Will finish @Suns season & hopefully try to keep most of current team intact. Why wouldn’t you want to play for an NBA coach?
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) April 16, 2024
In October Kevin Young was T-2nd in the annual NBA GM Survey of who the top assistant coach in the league is.
Jordi Fernandez, number one, just got the Nets job. Young was a finalist. #BYUMBB pic.twitter.com/TC1LqU7Oj2
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) April 17, 2024
Don’t know Kevin Young, but know many people that do. Absolutely incredible hire. I learned that NBA stars swear by him as a coach. Also heard the words humble, and gracious. Excited to rally and support.
— Tim LaComb (@tlacomb) April 16, 2024
BYU will be paying Kevin Young $4.2 million per year.
That number is more than:
1. Mick Cronin, UCLA ($4.1m)
2. Tommy Lloyd, Arizona ($4.1m)
3. Tony Bennett, Virginia ($4.0m)
4. Matt Painter, Purdue ($3.7m)
5. Any coach in the Big 12 not named Bill Self, Scott Drew, or Kelvin…— 🏀 801 Bracketology 🏀 (@801bracketology) April 16, 2024
If the reported 30 million over 7 years number is accurate, Kevin Young would be among the top 15 highest paid college basketball coaches in the country.
Ryan Smith and co. doing work.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) April 16, 2024
Steve Young on the @BYUMBB hire of Kevin Young as the next Head Coach:
"I’m not sure that we’re related, but we are now!! People worry about the Cougs being able to answer and build and rise up to the Big 12 challenge. This is our answer!"
Full article featuring that quote and…
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) April 16, 2024
With Phoenix Sun’s assistant coach Kevin Young and the Arizona Coyotes both leaving for Utah, the Arizona Legislature has announced plans to build a wall on the Utah/Arizona boarder 😂
— Richard Ostler (Papa Ostler) (@Papa_Ostler) April 16, 2024
Hear me out…Kevin Young may be just the guy to convince Jaxson Robinson to run it back one more year.
Who better to get him ready for the league than a guy who's coached there for years?#byu— LogueOne (@LoganM9384) April 16, 2024
you'd think a dude like Kevin Young, with his considerable nba experience, could make a good pitch to a guy like Jaxson Robinson to stick around another year and develop
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) April 16, 2024
BYU has proven it's very serious about taking basketball to the next tier by hiring Kevin Young. It's an un-BYU-like move, if that makes sense. But Big12 affiliation necessarily changes things, and it's looking like BYU is serious about said affiliation
— Brandon Gurney (@BrandonCGurney) April 16, 2024
Let’s go! Massive hire. Time to work Coach! https://t.co/GFSDASJ9Up
— Jimmer Fredette (@jimmerfredette) April 16, 2024
Kevin Young is a huge get for BYU basketball. Have to imagine this is going to give them a big edge recruiting-wise. This kid Durant is one to keep an eye on 👀 pic.twitter.com/DPPBX3v7m5
— Jake Bentley (@JakeBentley23) April 16, 2024
Here’s hoping he can bring Devin Booker and Kevin Durant over in the transfer portal. #BYUHoops https://t.co/bhet2wzNkC
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) April 16, 2024
We are so lucky 🍀!!
Only Tom Holmoe and Brian Santiago could get the best assistant in the NBA to leave for BYU!
Congrats! Let’s go cougar nation!!!
Welcome Coach Young 🙌 https://t.co/JfGCC4NFMF
— Travis Hansen (@travishansen24) April 16, 2024
Plus, the fact they secured this level of hire in this amount of time shows their willingness to play the hiring game.
This was uncharacteristically fast as well as spendy. If reports are accurate, it’s sets a new pay standard for the University.
This was a good day for BYU.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) April 17, 2024
Brigham Young
Steve Young
Kevin YoungBYU 🐐s
— Shane (@LiftingCoug) April 16, 2024
— CougarTails (@ddmackattack) April 16, 2024
PUTTING MARK POPE’S NEW TITHING DOLLARS TO GOOD USE 🔥 https://t.co/k2lSUEXKvL
— Jonny Linehan (@jlinehan9) April 16, 2024
The easiest way to one up Kentucky…live on BYU TV.
— JimRobertsMN (@roberts_mn) April 16, 2024
This is my dream staff for BYU BB. It's a pipe dream, but I'll dream anyway:
Kevin Young – HC
Chris Burgess – AHC and HC in Waiting
Barrett Peery – Asst
Quincy Lewis – Asst
Nick Robinson – Asst**Jimmer on staff as "future Jimmer identifier"
— Kramer (@KramerHolle) April 16, 2024
Utah Jazz exec/former #BYUHoops star Danny Ainge on the Cougars' hiring of Kevin Young:
"That's a really good get for BYU … I know he was in the Brooklyn chase and Charlotte chase as well, and should have been (hired as head coach). Unbelievable. That's fantastic." pic.twitter.com/w9S0YJzIbx
— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) April 16, 2024
Uhhh, Kevin Young might be a better candidate than Mark Pope. https://t.co/bbLNKjf5RK
— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) April 16, 2024
BYU fans, y'all hit a homerun
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 16, 2024
Danny Ainge on Kevin Young: That's a really good get for BYU
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 16, 2024
This an absolute home run by Tom Holmoe. Y fans should be over the moon. https://t.co/xlviYXht05
— Spence Checketts (@spencechecketts) April 16, 2024
Wow serious congrats to BYU for landing Kevin Young, great person and great coach
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) April 16, 2024
Oh wow, Kevin Young is an *incredible* get for BYU
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) April 16, 2024
Love seeing BYU move on from older policies that don't work with the new era we're in with sports https://t.co/sT0YSsWSMT
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) April 16, 2024
Looks like BYU has found its replacement for Mark Pope; Huge hire for the Cougars — I was one of those that believed Kevin Young was out of reach. https://t.co/ODHSY4Y3yu
— Jay Drew (@drewjay) April 16, 2024
"We're so excited for him but it's bittersweet. We've spent a lot of time together. He's been instrumental in what in what we've built."
Suns GM James Jones on assistant Kevin Young being BYU head coach.
"It's an opportunity to show the world how great of a coach he is." #Suns pic.twitter.com/BvYRtR3cQm
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 16, 2024
“He’s gonna help us compete for this championship”
“Suns fans have to appreciate his contributions obviously beyond this year”
“I’m super happy for him, they are beyond lucky to have him at BYU”
Frank Vogel on assistant Kevin Young taking the BYU job & his role with the Suns: pic.twitter.com/uoV0JAScVy
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 16, 2024
Coach, how many national championships will you bring to BYU? pic.twitter.com/pT3GtwDrA2
— Sporty (@SportyMcSports) April 16, 2024
It is known: SMU > USC > Arkansas > Kentucky > BYU > Phoenix Suns. https://t.co/dKXEirc44z
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) April 16, 2024
BREAKING: Suns assistant Kevin Young has agreed to a deal to become the next head coach at BYU, per @wojespn.
Young was recently a reported finalist for the Nets HC vacancy. pic.twitter.com/fYpg31KTgY
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 16, 2024
I have not posted on Twitter or (I guess X now?) for a long time but @BYUMBB just made an amazing hire in Kevin Young. Sends a great message about how they want to compete in the BIG 12 and they did it in warp speed for BYU! Shout out to @TomHolmoe and the administration pic.twitter.com/2gzrrxJutX
— Trent Plaisted (@TPlaist44) April 17, 2024
Get this man a beard card stat before he rethinks his decision https://t.co/n3NoXC9gXH
— Kung Fu Kevy (@DJ_Kevy_Kev) April 16, 2024
Collin Chandler is going to feel silly about leaving BYU for Kentucky when he finds out:
— Kentucky Fried Chicken started in Utah
— Kentucky Bluegrass isn't even blue
— The Catholic pope has coached as many NCAA Tournament wins as Mark Pope https://t.co/uLfs4SVyER— Jody Genessy (@DJJazzyJody) April 16, 2024
