Brett Young Resigns as Paul VI Baseball Coach to Take on a New Challenge
Brett Young took over a Paul VI baseball program that was struggling mightily five years ago. The Eagles had won four games the year prior to his arrival and there was plenty of work to do.
One thing that Young wanted from the players was the same commitment he was about to give. There were some growing pains, losing some close games to heavily favored teams, but by the third season his stamp was fully on the program.
Paul VI would win 15 games in 2018 and 2019. The 2019 team was among the 10 best in South Jersey.
COVID-19 took away the 2020 season, one in which Paul VI was expected to improve from the previous two years.
The future remains extremely bright, but it will be without the guidance of Young, who has accepted a job as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Widener University. Young, 38, will continue to teach health and physical education at Paul VI.
One of his goals was to one day coach in college and at 38, he realized that now was the time to get moving. Eventually, like any assistant coach, he aspires to one day be a college head coach, but for now he intends to be the best possible assistant.
“My goal was always to coach at college and I am getting started at that a littler later than most,” he said.
Young recently earned his master’s degree in education. He consulted several college coaches and they said that if he got the opportunity now is the time to make the move.
“I am really excited to be going to Widener, it’s a great program,” he said.
One advantage Young will have, is that he knows the South Jersey area like the back of his hand. Yet he will be recruiting in the entire Delaware Valley and likely beyond.
He will also be aiding the players in his role as assistant coach and his background as a player will help greatly. Young was an all-South Jersey performer at Haddon Township in 2000 and then spent two years at Gloucester County College, where he went to the Junior College World Series championship game in each of his two years. The Roadrunners lost in both championship games, but Young said he thoroughly enjoyed his junior college career.
“We didn’t win the national championship, but it was a great experience,” he said.
After Gloucester County he was drafted in the 39th round by the Atlanta Braves, but opted for a baseball scholarship at the University of Delaware. Injuries derailed his career, but Young always knew he wanted to stay in the game and he has in a big way by coaching.
In addition to coaching at Paul VI, he has in the past coached youth travel teams. He understands what it is like at those national tournaments, has made a lot of contacts with other youth and high school coaches and that will be a big aid in his new job.
As for his old job, Young will truly miss it, especially since he not only built up the program but established great relationships with the youngsters.
“The hardest part was telling my players I was leaving,” he said. “It was so tough to walk away but I had to do what was the best interest and put my family in a good spot.”
Paul VI has hired veteran coach Gary Sarno as his successor. Sarno has enjoyed great success as a head coach at Camden Catholic, Cherry Hill West and Hammonton and he was an assistant to Young the past two years. (More on Sarno in a future column).
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The Paul VI baseball team is in good hands with Sarno, but it was Young who brought the program back to respectability, and he will attempt to have the same success as he begins on the collegiate level.
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The Paul VI baseball team is in good hands with Sarno, but it was Young who brought the program back to respectability, and he will attempt to have the same success as he begins on the collegiate level.
© SouthJersey.com 2020. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.
To receive special deals directly from SouthJersey.com, subscribe here.
For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.
Author: Marc Narducci
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