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Former All-America player Michael Young returns for his 11th season at the University of Houston and his fifth as the director of basketball operations and performance enhancement. In his current role, Young is responsible for the design and implelentation of year-round programs for student-athletes. He also serveas as an informational source of performance enhancement programs. Young took over his current responsibilities after serving one season as an assistant coach and five years as Houston's strength and conditioning coach. He returned to his alma mater in 1998 after a 15-year professional career spent in the NBA and overseas. A 1984 first-round selection by the Boston Celtics, Young played three years in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. He also played two seasons with the Detroit Spirit of the CBA, where he was named the CBA's Player of the Year in 1986 after averaging 26 points per game. In addition to playing in the NBA and CBA, Young enjoyed an illustrious 14-year playing career overseas in the Philippines, Spain, Italy, France and Israel. In France, he averaged 23 points per game while leading Limoges to the 1992 European Club Championship. It was the first time a French athletic club won a European title in any sport. For his impressive achievements, Young was inducted into the French Sports Hall of Fame, and his number was retired In January 2003. Before beginning his professional career, Young was a four-year starter at Houston and continues to hold school records for games and minutes played. By the time that his collegiate playing days were finished, the Houston native and Yates High School standout joined All-America players Elvin Hayes and Otis Birdsong as the only players in school history to net more than 2,000 points. Young also set a Southwest Conference record for most field goals made. In addition, he has the distinction of being the only Cougar to start on four NCAA Tournament teams and remains the school's career leader with 16 NCAA Tournament games played. As a freshman, he was a starting forward and helped lead the Cougars to the 1981 NCAA Tournament. A year later, the Cougars advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in 14 years. As a member of Phi Slama Jama - one of the most exciting teams in college basketball' history - Young led the team with 17.3 points per game and helped the Cougars advance to the 1983 national championship game for the first time in school history. Although the Cougars dropped a heartbreaking decision to NC State, that game remains one of the most exciting in the history of the NCAA Tournament. Young returned for his senior season in 1984 and teamed with Hakeem Olajuwon to lead Houston to the NCAA title game against Georgetown. As a senior, he was recognized by The Sporting News and Basketball Weekly as an All-America Second-Team honoree and as an All-America Third-Team performer by the Associated Press, UPI and NABC Kodak chose him Third-Team All-American. He also was a consensus First-Team All-SWC selection after leading the league in scoring with 19.8 points per game. Young ended his career as a three-member of the SWC All-Tournament Team, making him the only player in school history to accomplish that feat. For an outstanding career of excellence, Young was given two of the greatest honors the UH Athletics Department can bestow upon a former student-athlete. In the fall of 2004, Young was inducted into the UH Hall of Honor, and on Dec. 18, 2007, his No. 42 jersey was retired at halftime of the UH-Kentucky game. Young received his bachelor's degree in education from Houston in 2002. He and his wife, Tina, have five children: Michael Jr., Joseph, Mayorca, Jacob and Milan Maria. The family lives in Houston. |
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