Steve Young has full faith in BYU basketball coach — and his “long-lost cousin” — Kevin Young ahead of BYU’s NCAA tournament run.
BYU faces Texas in its first game of the NCAA tournament Thursday. On Wednesday, the BYU head coach received a video message from former BYU quarterback Steve Young, which CBS Sports shared on social media.
Steve Young first congratulated Kevin Young on a “great season” before letting him know he was fully behind him.
“As we head out for the ultimate championship journey, we’re behind you 1,000% and just want you to know that if anyone can do it, you guys can do it,” he said.
The Hall of Fame quarterback then praised Kevin Young for his leadership at BYU.
“So grateful for all your leadership, not just at basketball, but just how to do it in the Big 12 and how to compete. And I think that — I don’t know, I’ll follow you anywhere,” he said.
In the social media video, CBS Sports showed Kevin Young the message and got his reaction.
“(It’s) awesome getting a message from Steve Young,” he said.
He added that the two joke that they’re “long-lost cousins somewhere along the Young line.” He said Steve Young has been supportive of him since he took the head coaching job at BYU in 2024.
“He’s a great guy. He’s been tremendous to me since I’ve taken the job,” he said.
Kevin Young said the message reminded him of the support he felt from BYU fans and alumni during his first NCAA tournament with BYU last season, which ended in the Sweet 16.
“I didn’t really comprehend the magnitude of this tournament as it relates to an alumni base, to a fan base, so to have guys like Steve Young — and there’s so many other notable alums that are super excited about following our team in the tournament — it just kind if gives us that extra motivation and a lot of pride for the university,” he said.
BYU tips off against Texas on Thursday at 5:25 p.m. MDT to begin its NCAA tournament run. The game will be broadcast on TBS.