BYU has named Kevin Young as their next head coach

Trailing by 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tom Holmoe steps up to the plate with one chance to empty the bases loaded by his teammates. Two outs, full count, back against the wall. With the announcement that he'd be hiring NBA assistant coach, Kevin Young, BYU's Athletic Director whacked a curveball out of the park when no one thought possible.

After a week full of BYU's basketball taking hit after hit, we finally get some good news. The search for a new head coach is over, and the man for the job is better than anyone could have realistically expected. Kevin Young, who has been a leading candidate for head coaching jobs across the the highest level of basketball in the world--the NBA--has accepted the title of head coach for Brigham Young University.

In an article by ESPN, they laid out the magnitude of this hire for a spiraling BYU basketball program.

"Young -- the highest-paid assistant in the NBA -- had been a significant candidate for league head coaching jobs in the past two hiring cycles, but BYU landed him with a sizable commitment to lead the Cougars into their second Big 12 Conference season and beyond."

- Adrian Wojnarowski

Young was on our list of dark horse candidates to accept the BYU job, because moving from NBA sidelines to join the collegiate ranks is rarely a move made willingly. Knowing that Young is excited and anxious to get this team built back up is honestly just what we need right now.

Young has been building momentum across NBA circles over the last few years, as he's been considered to be the head coach for teams like the Nets, Bucks, 76ers, Jazz, Rockets, Hornets, and more.

Credit has to be due to BYU's athletic department. Delivering a hire on this level when the team's structure looked destined to collapse should put Holmoe in consideration for the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year Award, and I don't care if you say he doesn't qualify.

Young's college basketball experience is limited compared to some of the names thrown around during this hiring cycle, but his knowledge and understanding of the game should ease any concerns about making the transition.

As far as recruiting and navigating the transfer portal, NIL, and the many new obstacles that litter the college basketball landscape, Robby McCombs of Vanquish the Foe writes, "BYU is working on a strong assistant coach list for Young that would ease his transition into the college ranks. Some strong candidates [have] expressed interest in working under Young due to his NBA experience and what that could mean for their own career trajectory."

This hire is best-case scenario for BYU to bounce back in the post-Pope era. We'll all be excitedly anticipating Young's first moves as the Cougars' head, and will be cheering him on as he prepares his team for a new year in the Big 12.

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