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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young, right, shakes hands with Cougar football coach Kalani Sitake before the start of a news conference at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young addresses an audience at his introductory news conference in the Marriott Center on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young shakes hands with Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe at the Provo Airport on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young, center, and his wife, Melissa, talk to Cougar Director of Basketball Communications Tyson Jex at the Provo Airport on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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New BYU men's basketball coach Kevin Young addresses an audience at his introductory news conference at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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NBA All-Star guard Devin Booker was asked on Wednesday what he thought about Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young becoming the next head coach at BYU.

“KYU,” Booker corrected.

“KY” is Young’s nickname but Cougar Nation knows precious little else about the man chosen to replace the departed Mark Pope other than the basic facts: He was the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA ($2 million per year), he is going to be paid more than any previous BYU coach and he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors BYU.

They learned a little more on Wednesday, when Young flew in from Phoenix for an introductory news conference at the Marriott Center.

BYU President Shane Reece welcomed dignitaries at the arena and fans watching the live stream, saying it was the “dawning of a new era of BYU basketball.” After a Cougar highlight video, Young finally stood a the podium.

“When you’re doing everything on the phone and you’re not here, for me and my family we can feel the energy in this building,” Young said. “When you step foot in here, this place is going to be rocking. We’re going to get this thing rolling. We’re so excited to be here.”

Young thanked Director of Athletics Tom Holmoe and Deputy Athletic Director Brian Santiago, among others, for their part in making his new opportunity a reality.

“It became clear pretty quickly that this was going to be something that my wife and I were going to make an amazing decision to join,” Young said. “It became obvious pretty quickly as we were talking about how amazing this place is.”

Young was able to address the players on the current roster in the locker room before the event.

“What I really want to start this thing with is the players,” Young said. “You guys are the first ones I saw when I got into this building. The things you guys were able to accomplish your first year in the Big 12 were absolutely remarkable. I cannot wait to have every one of you guys back at BYU in uniform. Honestly, that’s my first priority. I’ve already started building relationships with those guys.

“What I’ve learned very quickly is because of the history of this program and what they’ve been able to accomplish long before I showed up is that players want to play here and coaches want to coach here. Talking to a lot of different people, this is a very desirable place to be. I look forward to teaming up with a lot of elite people that we’re going to get to do this thing together.”

Young answered questions from the media for just over 12 minutes, including his offensive and defensive philosophies.

“My label, so to speak, in the NBA word has been on the offensive end,” he said. “It’s playing at a fast pace, up and down and spreading the floor out. I’m going to encourage these guys to watch this series between the Suns and the T-Wolves and take notes on how we’re doing some of the things there. I am a modern thinker and I want to analytically push the envelope. Defensively, that’s where I really get excited because I’ve been on the offensive side for so long in the NBA. You see how elite defenses guard certain things. I’ve been able to put together a pretty extensive defensive background. The rules are different in college but I look forward to being able to get creative on that side of the ball.”

Young will remain with the Suns through their playoff run, which begins Saturday. That makes getting a roster in place and hiring assistants and support staff kind of tricky.

“It’s going to be a challenge but I look forward to it,” he said. “I’m invested in those guys (the Suns). But getting a staff together, I’ve been working tirelessly on that. I’ve been on the phone a lot in the past 24 hours. Outside of these players, that’s my first order of business is getting a staff together that can hold down the fort for now.”

Young had interviewed for several NBA head coaching jobs and was in the middle of that process when Holmoe and Santiago contacted him about the opening at BYU.

“It’s really a unique experience to tell the next chapter of the BYU story,” he said. “I love basketball. I love working with young players. I love developing players and building relationships and to be able to do all those things at a place that has the family atmosphere that I so desire for my kids and my wife to be around, this job actually became a really easy choice.”

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