New BYU athletic director Brian Santiago said it was his top priority to keep Kevin Young in Provo.
And in less than a month on the job, it looks like Santiago accomplished his goal.
BYU’s head basketball coach agreed to a “long-term” extension on Thursday. The university did not specify the duration of the deal, but indicated it would “keep Young in Provo for the foreseeable future.”
“My family and I have loved our first year at BYU, being surrounded by great people, at a great university with shared values,” Young said in a statement. “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.”
Young led BYU to the Sweet 16 for the first time in over a decade in his first season at the helm. He also brought in the Cougars’ best recruiting class in program history, signing the No. 1 overall prospect AJ Dybantsa over North Carolina, Alabama and others.
BYU is widely seen as a top 10 team heading into 2025, with marquee games at Madison Square Garden, TD Garden and a season-opener in Las Vegas against Villanova.
“This is an exciting time for all of BYU athletics with Brian Santiago recently being named athletic director,” Young said. “I look forward to continuing to work with Brian and am excited to be in lock step with his leadership.”
Young joined BYU from the NBA ranks, where he was the highest-paid assistant coach in the league with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns job was open this offseason, and Santiago briefly worried about their potential interest in hiring Young.
“I just think that everybody knows there’s been a lot out there with him being such a successful NBA coach and the Phoenix Suns making the change with their head coaching job. And it is obvious that they’re going to be interested in talking to Kevin Young,” Santiago said the day he was hired.
But now BYU’s locked Young up for at least another season in Provo — likely the Cougars’ most anticipated yet.
