Coaching Staff - Head Coach - Jeff Young

 

Head Coach - Jeff Young

Jeff Young begins his fourth full season as Head Coach of the nationally known Cavs’ basketball program. Young has been associated with the program since 1986, when be began his career as a player. In 2004, he was hired as the University’s 12th head basketball coach. Prior to his appointment, Young served eleven plus years as an assistant to former Head Coach Steve Loy (1992-2004), who passed away February 7, 2004 due to complications from liver cancer. Walsh won 20-games seven times under Loy and reached the NAIA Final Four in 1995-96, after finishing 31-5. He also served as an assistant under Ron Frederes for two years (1990-92).

In his first year as head coach, Young led Walsh to its first men’s basketball national championship, and was named NAIA National Coach of the Year. He directed the Cavs to the American Mideast Conference South Division title and an overall record of 27-8 and was named AMC Coach of the Year. Walsh completed their championship run with five straight wins in Branson, Missouri to capture the crown. Walsh would receive further national attention when Robert Whaley, the NAIA Player of the Year, was selected in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, thus becoming the first Walsh player to be drafted. In his second season, Young led the Cavs to another AMC South title and NAIA National Tournament appearance. Despite failing to repeat as National Champions, the Cavs reached the NAIA Elite Eight and finished the season 27-7. Last year, Walsh was again one of the most successful teams in the NAIA. The Cavs shared the AMC South regular season title with NAIA National Tournament qualifiers Cedarville University and Mount Vernon Nazarene, and then won the AMC Tournament championship, at home, against Notre Dame College. At the NAIA National Tournament, the Cavs went 1-1 and reached the “Sweet 16”, finishing the season 28-6. In his first three years, Young has led the Cavs to 82 wins, against only 25 losses, which includes a 45-9 AMC South record. Young’s Cavs are the second winningest team in the NAIA the last three years. 

For the past two years, Young has worked the NIKE Championship Basketball Clinic, with the likes of Billy Donovan, Gary Williams, Bobby Cremins and Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown.

Young enjoyed a stellar career at Akron Ellet High School. He earned three letters for Bruce Moore and the Orangemen and scored 886 points. He was first team All-City Series, All-Summit County, All-District and a third team All-Ohio selection. 

The sharp shooting guard enrolled at Walsh in 1986 and launched a magnificent four-year career. Young demonstrated his ability to score right away, and in his freshman season averaged 6.4 ppg in 32 games. In his sophomore season he averaged 14.6 ppg and was named first team All-MOC and All-District 22. He averaged 19.5 ppg his junior year and was named second team All-MOC, and first team All-District 22. Young’s senior year was just as prolific as the first three. He averaged 20.1 points and led the Cavs to the NAIA playoffs. Young scored 1,814 career points to become Walsh’s all-time scoring leader (since broken by Corry Appline). He was named first team All-MOC and District 22, District 22 Player of the Year, and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American his senior year. Young averaged 15.0 ppg and is currently third on the all-time scoring list. He is a member of the Walsh University Wall of Fame.

Young, an Akron native, earned his bachelor's degree from Walsh in physical education in 1990. He completed requirements for his master's degree in education from Walsh in 1991. Young also served as the University’s Men’s Golf Coach for seven years and initiated the Women’s program. He guided the men to the American Mideast Conference Golf Championship and a NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2002, and led the women to the AMC title in their first full year. Jeff and his wife, the former Lesley Keller, were blessed with the birth of their first child, Audrey Paige, last December. They reside in Jackson Township.