Michael Young was born on January 2, 1961, in Houston, Texas. He emerged as a standout basketball player during
his high school years at Yates High School, catching the attention of college recruiters, including the legendary Guy
V. Lewis, head coach of the University of Houston's basketball team.
Under Lewis's guidance, Young joined the University of Houston basketball program, contributing to the storied Phi
Slama Jama era and helping lead the Houston Cougars to multiple NCAA Final Four appearances in the early 1980s.
He remains the third leading scorer in University of Houston Basketball history.
After his collegiate career, Young was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft. He
embarked on a professional basketball career that included stints with various teams in the NBA and overseas
(Philippines, Spain, Italy, France, and Israel), earning recognition as MVP of the Continental Basketball Association
(CBA) and winning the Euro League title with Limoges in 1992-1993. His contributions were instrumental in
securing the Euro League title for Limoges, marking a historic victory as it was the first time France won a
European championship. This achievement also represented Limoges' first-ever Euro League title, and Young's
leadership and skill played a crucial role in securing the historic victory.
Following his playing career, Young returned to the University of Houston to complete his Bachelor's degree in
Kinesiology. He transitioned into coaching, starting as a strength and conditioning coach under head coach Clyde
Drexler. Young later served as an assistant coach under Ray McCallum, strength and conditioning coach under Tom
Penders, and director of basketball operations under James Dickey. Young played a crucial role in mentoring
players, developing strategies, and fostering a culture of excellence within the basketball program.
In addition to his coaching career, Young is known for his family ties to athletics. He is married to Tina Marie
Young, and together they have five adult children (Michael Jr., Joseph, Mayorca, Jacob, and Milan), all of whom
excelled as student-athletes at Division I schools. Michael Jr. played football for the University of Houston Cougars.
Joseph journeyed from playing under his father's coaching at the University of Houston to a successful college
career at Oregon and eventually being drafted by the NBA's Indiana Pacers. Mayorca ran track at the University of
Houston, while Jacob played basketball at the University of Texas, Rutgers, and Oregon, and now plays
professionally in the NBA G-League for the Windy City Bulls. Milan is a professional track runner after competing
at LSU and the University of Texas. These achievements stand as a testament to both Michael's influence and the
guidance provided by the Young family. Furthermore, they are proud grandparents to five grandchildren (Zoey,
Joey, Michael III, Maddox, and Zuri), extending their family's legacy in both athletics and academia.
Young's coaching career continues to resonate as he transitions into the role of head coach at the College of Biblical
Studies, where he will draw upon his unwavering faith in God to shape the program and mentor student-athletes
both on and off the court.
