The Coach of Coaches
In Memoriam
1932–2022
Tom Young
Former Rutgers men’s basketball head coach Tom Young, the winningest coach in program history, passed away in March at age 89. Young led the Scarlet Knights from 1973 to 1985, amassing a 239-117 record. With Young as head coach, Rutgers never had a losing season.
The apex of his career was in 1975–76 when the Scarlet Knights achieved a perfect 26-0 regular season record, eventually reaching the Final Four. They completed the season, 31-2, the best finish in Rutgers history. Young was the United Press International Coach of the Year and was later inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame.
“Coach Young was an incredible coach and mentor,” said Rutgers director of athletics Pat Hobbs. “He will undoubtedly be remembered for the success he had on the sidelines leading Rutgers men’s basketball, but his legacy is with the men he nurtured and taught throughout his years as coach. Their success in life was his greatest achievement.”