Though Wofford Athletics has its ups and downs, the college has maintained a certain prestige for its basketball program, especially since the men’s team made an appearance in the NCAA March Madness tournament in 2019. Much of this success can be attributed to Mike Young, the previous coach.
Though Young has been the head coach for men’s basketball at Virginia Tech since 2019, he spent the three decades prior working for Wofford’s basketball program. Young was promoted from Wofford’s assistant coach to the head coach in 2002, around the time his son, Davis, was born.
Davis Young ‘25 grew up with Wofford Basketball on the sidelines of his life.
“Our family kind of revolved around Wofford Basketball,” said Young. “You could sense in our house if things were going well or not.”
Though Young admits he was always near the intense emotions that came alongside his father’s position, he looks back upon these stresses fondly, always following the team’s wins and losses closely.
“I can remember being huddled around my mom’s computer in our kitchen countless times, either watching or listening in to every road game we were unable to make it to,” said Young.
Though he remembers following the team through tense moments at games and tournaments, Young also reminisces on his memories with the team formed off the court, especially those formed on team road trips.
“I remember on a road trip I made a deal with Noah Dalhman ‘11 that if they won the league, he could shave my head,” said Young. “That was a deal my mom wasn’t too happy about… a couple of weeks after the season ended, Dalhman came to our house with some clippers and buzzed my entire head in our kitchen.”
Though he was surrounded by Wofford’s basketball team in adolescence, Young also mentioned his near-constant involvement with on-campus sport camps and other Wofford sporting events.
While Young said he does not ever remember missing a home basketball game, he also noted his family’s commitment to Wofford outside of basketball.
“(Wofford Basketball) was kind of my mom and dad’s life for a little bit over 30 years… I think that there will always be a very special place in both of their hearts for Wofford Basketball and Wofford Athletics,” Young said. “I know that we are all big-time Terriers and always will be.”
Considering his father’s longtime position at Wofford and his own sentimental memories of growing up surrounded by Wofford Basketball, it is no surprise that Young himself became a Terrier.
Young thinks back on a childhood conversation with his father on his walk to school one morning after what he remembers to be a trying week for his father and Wofford Basketball.
After his father admitted to struggling with recruiting players for the team, the then elementary-aged Young promised to commit to the College.
“As I’d soon find out, my athletic abilities weren’t too good, but I’m still here as a student,” Young said. “It was always my plan to come to Wofford. I love this place.”
