Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- BYU extends Kevin Young's contract after a successful first season at BYU.
- Young led the Cougars to a 26-10 record and Sweet 16 berth.
- Young's extension secures him as one of college basketball's best-paid coaches.
PROVO — Kevin Young isn't going anywhere.
Not for the long term, or at least, without considerable cost.
Young signed a long-term contract extension with BYU, the university announced Thursday afternoon, keeping the former Phoenix Suns associate head coach and rising NBA coaching star under contract following a breakout first season at the Marriott Center.
The extension was one of the key focuses of the early days of new athletic director Brian Santiago. As is customary at BYU, terms of the extension were not revealed, other than noting the contract will "keep Young in Provo for the foreseeable future."
"We need to make sure, starting with Kevin Young, that he's locked in at BYU for a long time," Santiago told reporters following his introductory press conference, alluding that Young could be a candidate for the then-vacant Phoenix Suns job. "Obviously, we're super close and we're going to have some good conversations, but I want to make sure that we have the right 19 coaches in place for all of our sports, and that they feel confidence moving forward and knowing that we're with them."
Young previously signed a seven-year deal worth somewhere in the realm of $30 million, according to CBS Sports' Matt Norlander, a contract that would make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.
It's hard to argue with the early results of the investment.
Let's ride, KY! pic.twitter.com/XT4RsGnFJn
— BYU Men's Basketball (@BYUMBB) June 5, 2025
The 43-year-old Young, who was born in Salt Lake City and grew up in the Atlanta area, led the Cougars to a 26-10 record and Sweet 16 berth for only the third time in program history in his first season, in addition to signing the top-rated recruit in the country in AJ Dybantsa.
A finalist for the Joe B. Hall National Coach of the Year, Young's 26 victories are the most by a first-year head coach in program history.
After starting his inaugural Big 12 campaign at 2-4, the Cougars rattled off 12 wins in the next 14 games, which included an eight-game winning streak and finished the regular season tied for third with Arizona (and the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City).
"My family and I have loved our first year at BYU, being surrounded by great people, at a great university with shared values," said Young, who played college basketball at Middle Georgia and Dalton State before meeting his wife (a BYU student) while working for the Utah Flash in Orem. "I'm excited to continue to build a program based on trying to help young men prepare for the NBA, win at the highest level and do it at BYU.
"This is an exciting time for all of BYU athletics with Brian Santiago recently being named athletic director. I look forward to continuing to work with Brian and am excited to be in lock step with his leadership."
Other highlights of Young's first season include the breakthrough success of Richie Saunders, who averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game and became the fifth player in program history to shoot 50/40/80 en route to Big 12 most improved player honors. He also mentored point guard Egor Demin, who is a projected first-round NBA draft pick this summer.
Saunders is set to return to BYU for his senior campaign, along with a returning core that includes fellow starter Dawson Baker and skilled shooter Dawson Baker.
In addition to Dybantsa, the Cougars also added four-star freshman Xavion Staton, Baylor transfer Robert Wright III, Idaho sharpshooter Tyler Mrus, All-Missouri Valley guard Kennard Davis Jr. from Southern Illinois, and UC Riverside's Nate Pickens from the transfer portal.
It all sets up what many consider to be the most anticipated season in BYU men's basketball history — and many more, based on Thursday's announcement.
