Avyanna Young named Bryant & Stratton College (WI) Head Women's Basketball Coach
Former Wisconsin Badger set to lead Bobcats
WAUWATOSA, Wis. (Bryant & Stratton College) — Bryant & Stratton College (WI) has named Avyanna “Avy” Young as its new head women’s basketball coach.
“We’re excited to have Avy join the Bobcats family,” Associate Athletic Director Ryan Ratajewski said. “We believe Avy is the right leader to continue the winning basketball culture that has been established at Bryant & Stratton.”
Young played two seasons for the Wisconsin Badgers after transferring from UWM. She played in 56 games and started in 48 for UW. She averaged 9.6 points and 6.6 rebounds with the Badgers. As a senior, she earned honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference honors after averaging 11.7 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds per game. She also played professionally for one season in Finland.
Avyanna Young returns for @BadgerWBB in 2016-17 after starting 28 games last season. #B1GWBBall pic.twitter.com/lPnZVUmOD7
— Big Ten Women's Basketball (@B1Gwbball) October 25, 2016
She discovered her passion for mentoring student-athletes through coaching, leadership, and player development following her playing career and is thrilled to be taking on this new role.
“What excites me the most is being able to continue to give opportunities [to others],” Young said. “I always aspired to be a college coach and I believe Bryant & Stratton is an amazing place to start and being from Milwaukee, playing basketball at an elite level and having the relationships in the community and coaching at my high school is the opportunity to give back and give ladies the opportunity to play basketball like I always wanted to.”
Playing basketball at a high level taught Young plenty of valuable lessons that have carried over into her coaching career.
“Whether it was 6 a.m. workouts or 8 p.m. workouts, we put in the work,” Young said. “It’s all about trusting the process [too]. Hard work really does pay off, even if you don’t always see it [results] right away. When it finally comes together and you’re able to compete, it hits you, ‘Wow I can really do this.’”
This is Young’s first collegiate head coaching role and undoubtedly she’s feeling pressure, but she's used to it as a former athlete and is eager to thrive and help the Bryant & Stratton women’s college basketball program succeed.
“I’m always up for a challenge and ready to put the work, the time, and the effort in.”