John Young Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 2nd Year

John Young enters his second season as an assistant coach for Michigan State.

Young, who coaches the hitters and catchers, helped guide an MSU squad that finished 18th in the nation last season in home runs (75).

Before coming to East Lansing, Young served for 14 seasons as a assistant coach at Bradley University, including seven years as the associate head coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Young had served as Bradley's assistant marketing and promotions director.

During Young's 14 years at Bradley, the Braves had 32 players who signed professional baseball contracts. Eight players were drafted in the first 10 rounds, including a first-round draft pick in 1999. Three of Young's BU players have reached the major leagues. His Bradley teams produced 31 all-conference players and two All-Americans. The Braves hit better than .300 in six out of 10 seasons, and during that span led the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average once, doubles once and home runs three times, including the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Bradley posted six of the school's top 10 records during his tenure, including three of the top four records.

Prior to his stint at Bradley, Young served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan for seven seasons. During his tenure in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines captured four Big Ten championships and made seven consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including two appearances at the College World Series.

Throughout his coaching background, Young has helped recruit and coach 13 future big leaguers, including Jim Abbott, Mike Grace, Scott Kamieniecki, Barry Larkin, Matt Matheny, Hal Morris, Bryan Rekar and Chris Sabo. He even sent one player, Greg McMurtry, on to the National Football League as a wide receiver with the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. In addition, Young has coached 78 all-conference players and 10 All-Americans during his 22 seasons in the collegiate ranks.

A native of Sterling Heights, Mich., Young is a graduate of Henry Ford II High School, where he was a three-sport athlete and a 15th-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He rejected the Pirates offer and enrolled at Michigan, where he was a four-year baseball letterwinner. In 1981 he was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team and hit .400 at the College World Series. Young earned a bachelor's degree in education from Michigan in 1983 and a master's degree in education administration.

Prior to enrolling at Michigan, Young was selected for the inaugural Olympic National Sports Festival in 1978, which was held in Colorado Springs, Colo. Young played for the Midwest squad, working behind the plate as his team's catcher in five of six games. He helped lead the Midwest to a 5-4 victory over the South in the gold medal game.

In 1980 and '81, he played for the Peoria Pacers in the Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL) and was named All-CICL. He led the 1981 Pacers to a league-record 34-5 mark.

Young was drafted in the 19th round by Detroit following his senior year of college and spent parts of two seasons in the Tigers organization. Following his pro playing career, Young returned to Michigan and became an assistant coach for the Wolverines.

He also coached in the Detroit Adray Collegiate League for seven summers. His teams made three appearances in the AABA World Series in Johnstown, Pa., and played for the national championship in 1984.

Young currently resides in Holt and has three daughters Lindsay (18), Kelly (16) and Allison (10).