Tom Young (basketball)

Thomas Joseph Young (September 17, 1932 – March 20, 2022) was an American basketball coach. He coached at American University, Rutgers University, Catholic University and Old Dominion University.

Tom Young
Photo of Young from the 1968–69 Maryland basketball media guide
Biographical details
Born(1932-09-17)September 17, 1932
Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 2022(2022-03-20) (aged 89)
Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1952–1953;
1957–1958
Maryland
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1958–1967Catholic University
1967–1969Maryland (assistant)
1969–1973American
1973–1985Rutgers
1985–1991Old Dominion
2003–2007Washington Wizards (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall524–328 (.615)
Tournaments6–6 (NCAA Division I)
4–5 (NIT)
0–1 (NCAA College Division)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards

Early life and education

Born in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania,[1] Young attended the University of Maryland, where he played on the basketball team, graduating in 1958.[2] Young interrupted his college career for a 19-month tour of duty in Germany for the United States Army after the 1952–53 season.[1] In 2003, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame inducted him into its ranks.[3]

Coaching career

After graduating from Maryland in 1958, Young became head coach at the Catholic University of America. In nine seasons, Young went 134–88 at Catholic.[4] From 1967 to 1969, Young was an assistant coach at his alma mater Maryland.[1]

Young then was head coach at American University from 1969 to 1973 and Rutgers from 1973 to 1985. At Rutgers, Young's 1976 Scarlet Knights had an undefeated regular season record and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. Young also served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association under Head Coach Eddie Jordan, who was the starting point guard on the 1976 Rutgers team. Under Young's tutelage, Phil Sellers, James Bailey, and Jordan evolved into All-Americans and went on to play in the NBA.

From 1985 to 1991, Young was head coach at Old Dominion. He led Old Dominion to the 1986 NCAA tournament in his first season, but this would be one of just two postseason tournaments in his six-year tenure. Old Dominion fired Young on March 7, 1991.[5] Two months earlier, Old Dominion suspended Young two games for an incident caught on camera where Young and several Old Dominion players chased a Western Kentucky player towards the locker room after a 77–74 loss to Western Kentucky.[6]

After leaving Old Dominion in 1991, Young became a television analyst for Atlantic 10 Conference broadcasts.[7] On June 25, 2003, Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan added Young to his coaching staff.[8] After four seasons with the Wizards, Young retired from coaching on June 13, 2007.[9]

Death

Young died at a hospital in Virginia Beach, Virginia on March 20, 2022.[10][11]

Head coaching record

Sources:[4][12][13][14]

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Catholic University Cardinals (Mason–Dixon Conference) (1958–1967)
1958–59Catholic University15–610–55th[15]
1959–60Catholic University12–127–6[16]
1960–61Catholic University16–7
1961–62Catholic University17–7
1962–63Catholic University16–11
1963–64Catholic University16–12NCAA College Regional Fourth Place
1964–65Catholic University15–99–2[17]
1965–66Catholic University14–13
1966–67Catholic University13–117–3[18]
Catholic University:134–88
American Eagles (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1969–1973)
1969–70American11–122–3T–3rd (Eastern)
1970–71American13–122–45th (Eastern)
1971–72American16–83–33rd (Eastern)
1972–73American21–54–23rd (Eastern)NIT first round
American:61–3711–12
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (NCAA Division I independent) (1973–1976)
1973–74Rutgers18–8
1974–75Rutgers22–7NCAA Division I first round
1975–76Rutgers31–2NCAA Division I Final Four
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (East Coast Basketball League/Eastern Athletic Association/Atlantic 10 Conference) (1976–1985)
1976–77Rutgers18–107–11st (East)NIT first round
1977–78Rutgers24–77–3T–1stNIT Third Place
1978–79Rutgers22–97–3T–2ndNCAA Division I second round
1979–80Rutgers14–147–3T–1st
1980–81Rutgers16–147–65th
1981–82Rutgers20–109–52ndNIT second round
1982–83Rutgers23–811–31st (East)NCAA Division I second round
1983–84Rutgers15–139–9T–4th
1984–85Rutgers16–149–9T–4th
Rutgers:239–11673–42
Old Dominion Monarchs (Sun Belt Conference) (1985–1991)
1985–86Old Dominion23–811–31stNCAA Division I second round
1986–87Old Dominion6–221–138th
1987–88Old Dominion18–129–53rdNIT first round
1988–89Old Dominion15–137–75th
1989–90Old Dominion14–147–7T–3rd
1990–91Old Dominion14–185–96th
Old Dominion:90–8740–44
Total:524–238

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

Further reading

  • Feinstein, John. The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever. Back Bay Books, 2003.