Skyler Young, who brings nearly 20 years of collegiate coaching experience, has been named head coach of Seattle University women’s basketball, Director of Athletics Shaney Fink announced. Young becomes the sixth head coach in program history.
“We are thrilled to welcome Skyler Young into the Redhawk Family,” Fink said. “Skyler is a proven winner. He is an exceptional recruiter who builds and maintains strong relationships. He embodies the mission and values of Seattle University in his commitment to developing student athletes on and off the court.”
Young spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Portland, helping lead a resurgence of winning on The Bluff. During his time at UP, the Pilots secured three 20+ win seasons, two West Coast Conference Tournament championships, two NCAA Tournament berths and one WNIT appearance.
“I would like to thank President Peñalver, Director of Athletics Shaney Fink and Associate Athletic Director Eric Guerra for this opportunity to lead the Seattle University women’s basketball program,” Young said. “This is a full circle moment that began 18 years ago this month when I moved to Seattle to work for the WNBA championship organization, the Storm.
“This is a city that I love and I am excited to come back to my first home away from home as the head coach of the Redhawk program. Together with our student athletes and staff, I am eager to begin establishing a culture of winning in the classroom, on the court and in life.”
In 2019-20, Portland finished 21-11, earning its first WCC Tournament title since 1994 and its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1997, though the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pilots went 20-11 in 2021-22 and earned a spot in the WNIT, then downed No. 1 seed Gonzaga to clinch the 2022-23 WCC Tournament and an NCAA Tournament bid on their way to a 23-9 season. Along the way, Young coached Alex Fowler, the first four-time First Team All-WCC selection for the Pilots and the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Prior to Portland, Young spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Weber State. He joined the Weber State staff in July of 2016, and under his guidance the Wildcats led the Big Sky in scoring offense, while ranking in the top 100 in seven offensive categories. He also helped lead the Wildcats to the WBI quarterfinals, and under his tutelage Larryn Brooks landed All-Big Sky honors.
Previous to his stint in Ogden, Utah, Young was an assistant coach at Bradley for four seasons. The Braves led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring in 2012-13, and their 71.3 points per game average ranked 21st in the nation. Previously, Young was an assistant with Ohio (2009-12), where he worked primarily with the Bobcats’ perimeter players. Young assisted Tenishia Benson with earning First-Team All-MAC honors after leading Ohio in both scoring and rebounding in 2011-12.
During his time in Athens, Ohio, Young helped secure a top-60 recruiting class, which included a 2011 Parade All-American and a junior college All-American who was ranked as the third-best junior college player in the country.
Young began his collegiate coaching career with the Western Michigan Broncos during the 2005-06 season and spent three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater. Between the 2005-06 and 2007-08 seasons, he helped coach the top two scorers in Western Michigan history, the 2006-07 Mid American Conference Co-Player of the Year and four First Team All-MAC award winners. Young also served as an undergraduate manager at Western Michigan, helping the Broncos to the 2002-03 MAC Tournament title and NCAA Tournament along with the WNIT quarterfinals during the 2003-04 season. In addition to the postseason success, Young helped WMU produce two Kodak honorable mention All-Americans and a MAC Player of the Year during his time as an undergrad.
Following his stint at Western Michigan, Young served as assistant coach at Detroit Mercy during the 2008-09 season, recruiting one of the top incoming classes in the program’s history.
Before starting his coaching career, Young spent the 2005 season as equipment manager with the Seattle Storm of the WNBA, where he also assisted with on-court individual skill development.
A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Young earned his Bachelor’s in business administration in 2005 from Western Michigan.
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