Sam Young Gallery
Sam Young enters his fourth year as a consultant to the Aggie staff. Young brought more than 40 years of college football experience upon his return to UC Davis. He started his career under Jim Sochor and subsequently continued his football education under Bob Foster.
“I feel extremely fortunate to have learned my craft under such Aggie legends," Young says. "Moreover, working alongside Bob Biggs certainly brought a strong effect to my approach to coaching. The late 1970’s through the 1980’s were a special time in Aggie football history. I feel very proud to have played a part in it.”
As an undergraduate, Young was a member of the track & field team and went on to coach and mentor the Aggies in the sport as well. Working under head coach Jon Vochatzer, he had the privilege of coaching six All-Americans, including national champion Steve Adelman. In fact, Young coached two Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Famers: Adelman, plus UC Davis safety and NFL second-round pick Bo Eason.
In 1991, Young continued to mentor in two sports when he accepted a teaching position at Modesto Junior College. He first served under Steve Da Prato – another former UC Davis assistant – from 1990 to 1999, then assumed the Pirate helm in 2000. During his run as head coach, Young led MJC to 93 wins, eight bowl games and two Golden Gate Conference championships. He retired as head coach in 2014 and handed the reins to yet another Aggie, Rusty Stivers, but remained with the program as a linebackers coach (2015) and defensive coordinator (2016). He remains the winningest football coach in MJC history and is enshrined the in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Originally from Porterville, California, Young holds a bachelor's degree in physical education from UC Davis and a master's in sports performance from Sacramento State.
