Kevin Young, BYU Cement Future With Long-Term Contract Extension Following Historic Sweet 16 Run
In a bold and calculated move that signals BYU’s full commitment to national contention, the Cougars have locked in head coach Kevin Young with a long-term contract extension. The decision, finalized just weeks after BYU’s stirring Sweet 16 appearance and the stunning acquisition of the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, has reverberated across the college basketball landscape.
Young, 43, took over the Cougars program with NBA pedigree, having served as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. His transition to the college game was met with initial skepticism, but he quickly silenced doubters. In just his second season, BYU surged through the Big 12 gauntlet and stormed into March Madness, dispatching powerhouses like Duke and Illinois before falling in a razor-thin overtime loss to Connecticut in the Sweet 16. It was the Cougars’ deepest tournament run in over four decades.
University Athletic Director Tom Holmoe announced the extension in front of a packed Marriott Center crowd, describing Young as “a visionary leader and relentless competitor” who embodies the school’s athletic and spiritual mission. Terms of the deal remain undisclosed, but sources close to the program confirm it spans at least seven years and includes substantial performance incentives tied to tournament success and player development.
Just as headline-grabbing was Young’s recent recruiting triumph. BYU stunned the nation by signing five-star phenom Jayden Steele, a 6-foot-8 combo forward out of Los Angeles who had offers from Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke. Steele, ranked the consensus No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, cited Young’s “NBA experience, culture-building, and trust in player freedom” as key reasons for choosing BYU. The commitment marks BYU’s first-ever top-5 national recruit and shifts the program’s narrative from underdog to rising juggernaut.
In a press conference following the extension, Young said, “We’re not here to be cute and competitive—we’re here to win championships. BYU is a sleeping giant with unmatched support, and we’re just waking up.” He praised the administration, fans, and his coaching staff, including former NBA colleague and defensive guru Corey Brewer, for “building something with real teeth.”
The extension also secures a continuity that BYU fans haven’t enjoyed in decades. Young’s system—a blend of NBA spacing, aggressive pace, and defensive versatility—has already produced two NBA Draft picks and attracted top transfer talent. With a loaded 2025 class and a passionate fan base, the program is poised to make a legitimate Final Four run.
National analysts have taken note. ESPN’s Jay Bilas remarked, “What Kevin Young is doing at BYU might be the most important program turnaround in college basketball right now.”
For Cougar Nation, the message is clear: The future isn’t coming—it’s already here. And Kevin Young is driving it forward, full throttle.
