Walsh University

Walsh made their mark as one of GLIAC’s toughest teams. In addition to leading the Cavs to three-straight GLIAC Tournament Final Four appearances, Young led the Cavs to a GLIAC South Division Co-Championship in the first year they were eligible for postseason play. In the 2015-16 season, Young guided the Cavaliers to yet another winning season at 16-13 and a 12-10 conference mark. Walsh once again reached the GLIAC Tournament as a No. 8 seed and upset No. 1 Saginaw Valley in the quarterfinals. The win advanced the Cavaliers to the semifinals for the third year in a row. Walsh then defeated No. 5 Hillsdale to make a championship appearance. 

Young has been associated with the program since 1986 when he began his career as a player. In 2004, he was hired as the university’s 12th head basketball coach. Prior to his appointment Young served 11-plus years as an assistant to former Head Coach Steve Loy (1992-2004) who passed away February 7, 2004 due to complications from liver cancer.

In his first year as head coach in 2004/2005, Young led Walsh to its first Men’s Basketball National Championship and was named NAIA National Coach of the Year. He directed the Cavs to the American Mideast Conference South Division title and an overall record of 27-8, and was named AMC Coach of the Year. Walsh completed their championship run with five-straight wins in Missouri to capture the crown.

Walsh received further national attention when NAIA Player of the Year Robert Whaley was selected in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz to become the first Walsh player to be drafted. In his second season, Young led the Cavs to another AMC South title and NAIA National Tournament appearance. Despite failing to repeat as national champions, the Cavs reached the NAIA Elite Eight and finished the season 27-7. In 2006-07, Walsh was again one of the most successful teams in the NAIA. The Cavs shared the AMC South regular season title, and then won the AMC Tournament championship.

At the NAIA National Tournament, the Cavs reached the Sweet 16 finishing the season 28-6. The 2007-08 season was again a stellar campaign for the Cavs. They won their fourth straight AMC crown (12-2), finished 25-6 overall, won the AMC North-South title game and reached the NAIA National Tournament for the fourth-straight time, again reaching the Sweet 16. The Cavs were ranked fourth in the final NAIA poll.

The 2008-09 season was no different than the previous four as Walsh again reached the NAIA National Tournament, tied for the AMC regular season title, won the AMC Tournament, and finished 27-4 overall and 12-1 in conference play. Their 27-4 overall record and 12-1 AMC mark ranked tops in Young’s first five seasons. In 2009-10, the Cavs nearly matched their accomplishments of 2005 when they finished national runners-up after they fell 67-66 to the University of Saint Francis in the title game.

Walsh finished the season 32-3 with the 32 wins being the second-most in a single season at Walsh behind the Bob Huggins-led 34-1 squad of 1982-83. They finished 15-1 in the AMC and won the AMC North/South Championship game. In 2010-11, the Cavs ran away from everyone in the AMC (17-1) to win their first 26 games and were ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. Walsh finished the season 30-2 and received the top seed at the NAIA National Tournament. It was the second-straight year they went to Branson as the top seed. They spent eight weeks as the NAIA’s top ranked team.

As they closed their association with the NAIA (2011), Walsh shared the mark with Oregon Tech of having been ranked for 74-straight weeks in the NAIA Division ll poll.

For nine years, Young also worked the NIKE Championship Basketball Clinic with the likes of Billy Donovan, Bobby Knight, Tom Izzo and Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown.

Young enjoyed a stellar career at Akron Ellet High School. He earned three letters for Bruce Moore and the Orangemen and scored 886 points. He was first-team All-City Series, All-Summit County, All-District and a third-team All-Ohio selection.

The sharp shooting guard enrolled at Walsh in 1986 and launched a magnificent four-year career. Young demonstrated his ability to score right away, and in his freshman season averaged 6.4 ppg in 32 games. In his sophomore season he averaged 14.6 ppg and was named first-team All-MOC and All-District 22 for the late Dan Peters. He averaged 19.5 ppg his junior year, and was named second-team All-MOC, and first-team All-District 22.

Young’s senior year was just as prolific as the first three as he averaged 20.1 points and led the Cavs to the NAIA playoffs. Young scored 1,814 career points, once being Walsh’s all-time scoring leader (since broken by Darryl Straughter). Young is 4th on the career points list. He was named first-team All-MOC and District 22, District 22 Player of the Year, and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American his senior year. He is also a two-time member of the Walsh University Wall of Fame as a player and coach of the 2004-05 National Championship team.

Young, an Akron native, earned his bachelor's degree from Walsh in physical education in 1990. He completed requirements for his master's degree in education from Walsh in 1991. Young also served as Walsh’s Men’s Golf Coach for seven years and initiated the women’s program. He guided the men to the American Mideast Conference Golf Championship and a NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2002, and led the women to the AMC title in their first full year of competition.In October of 2009, Jeff was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.

Jeff and his wife, Lesley, reside in Jackson Township with their four kids, Audrey, twins Benjamin and Tessa, and Blake.