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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Antoine Young

Antoine Young

Antoine Young is in his sixth year as an assistant coach with the Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball program. He became interim head coach in November 2023 and joined the Lopers in the summer of 2018. 

In a COVID shortened 2020-21 season, the Lopers went 8-14 with nearly every game decided in the last five minutes. UNK knocked off NCAA Tournament qualifier Missouri Western, swept Central Missouri and saw senior forward Austin Luger earn All-MIAA honors. UNK upped its’ win total in 2021-22 as transfer guard David Simental came in at 18.8 points per game. The team shot nearly 50% from the field and scored the same amount of points (2,057) as its’ opponents. Last season, forward Darrian Nebeker reached 1,000 points despite being at UNK for just three seasons. UNK MBB

In the 2019-20 season UNK went 16-13, defeating NCAA Tourney qualifiers Rogers State and Colorado School of Mines. The Lopers qualified for the MIAA Tournament, had three seniors tabbed All-MIAA and posted an 11-3 mark in the Health & Sports Center. 

A year earlier a young Loper squad was involved in an unprecedented 21 games decided by 10 points or less. Picking up wins over nationally-ranked Colorado Mines and regionally-ranked Fort Hays State, the Lopers won 10 games, had two All-MIAA players and was among the league leaders in blocks. Off the court the team had a 3.14 GPA for the 2018 fall semester.

The former Bellevue West and Creighton star came to UNK after spending two years at as the graduate assistant coach at MIAA-member Pittsburg State. He worked under head coaches Kim Anderson and Kevin Muff, helping Pitt win 22 games and reach the 2018 league tournament. Young also coached two All-MIAA players.

Young began his coaching career at NAIA Concordia University in Seward, Neb. During the 2015-16 season the Bulldogs went 18-12 and had four players named to the All-GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) team.

Holding a B.A. in Journalism from Creighton and a Master's from Pittsburg State, Young played professional basketball in Amsterdam, Switzerland and Mexico before entering the coaching ranks. At Creighton Young was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) selection who scored 1,342 points from 2008-12. His play helped the Bluejays win 97 games and reach the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

During his days at Bell West, Young was named first-team all-state three times and made the all-state tournament squad three times. He finished his career with 1,726 points thanks to averaging 18.5 points over his final three seasons. Finally, the Thunderbirds were Class A state runners up in both 2007 and 2006. 

In the summer of 2023 he married UNK Associate Head Athletic Trainer Whitney Ryan.