Kevin Young’s meteoric rise as BYU’s head basketball coach has sparked both excitement and anxiety. After leading the Cougars to a Sweet 16 appearance in his first season (2024-25), Young’s NBA experience and recruiting skills have made him one of the hottest commodities in the sport.
ESPN play-by-play announcer Pete Sousa, on the latest episode of The Pete Sousa Show, further fueled speculations about Young’s future, suggesting an NBA team, potentially his former employer, the Phoenix Suns, could lure him away from BYU. With BYU’s roster featuring talents like No. 1 recruit A.J. Dybantsa and a Top 5 national ranking for 2025-26, the stakes are high, and many are wondering about Young’s next career choice.
Kevin Young May Leave BYU Says ESPN Announcer Pete Sousa
Young, hired in April 2024 as the NBA’s highest-paid assistant from the Phoenix Suns, transformed BYU into a Big 12 contender in his debut season. The Cougars, picked ninth in the conference, finished with a 24-9 record, upset Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament, and reached the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011.
Young’s “rim-and-3” offense and deep rotation, featuring stars like Richie Saunders and Egor Demin, drove the turnaround, earning praise for his NBA-style approach. His ability to land Dybantsa, ESPN’s top 2025 recruit with a reported $8.5 million NIL deal, further cemented BYU’s status as a rising power.
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“There are NBA relationships that have helped players come to BYU, like Rob Wright, who wants that development. Kevin Young is amazing, and some NBA organization may want some of that, specifically his Suns”, says Sousa.
Young’s history coaching stars like Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Chris Paul with the Suns (2020-24) and reaching the 2021 NBA Finals makes him a prime target for any College Basketball program.
“How long will he stay at BYU?” Sousa asked. Young’s success, paired with his NBA connections, has NBA teams circling around him. The Suns, where he served as associate head coach, is the most plausible landing spot, especially after their playoff exit in 2024, which made coach Frank Vogel’s future very insecure at the program.
In the end, if money doesn’t become the factor, then the sentiment will definitely be a driving point. Young’s faith and family ties to Provo, he’s married to BYU graduate Melissa Bailey and has three children that attach him to the program.
Nevertheless, we can‘t deny that the NBA’s pull is very hard to refuse. His mentor, Roger Kvam, inspired his coaching journey, but Young’s 15 years in professional basketball, including stints with the 76ers and G-League, make a return very tempting.
BYU’s administration is banking on its vision to become an NBA pipeline. With players like Keba Keita and Xavion Staton joining Dybantsa, the Cougars are set for a Final Four push. But as Sousa warned, NBA rumors will persist, especially if Young delivers another deep tournament run.
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