1986 BYU Hall of Fame
BYU had as its head gymnastics coach Wayne Young - a man who was recognized for years as this country's best male gymnast.
Unlike most gymnasts who start perfecting their routines at a very early age, Young didn't have that opportunity until coming to BYU as a freshman from Provo High School. Provo schools did not have a gymnastics program, so Young went to the pools and became an All-Region and All-State diver, spending a little time at BYU after school getting some unofficial gymnastics coaching.
When he came to the "Y", he wanted to compete in the all-around category, but had to work hard for a couple of years before he could convince the coach of his ability. By December, 1974, however, he was featured on the cover of Gymnast magazine, with the headline, "Wayne Young-USA's Best." By the time he graduated he had garnered six WAC titles and been named BYU's first All-American in gymnastics.
When, as a junior, he started competing for the team in the all-around, he was the first Utahn ever found versatile enough to hold down that demanding position on a BYU team.
That year he won the WAC crown, and came in third in the NCAA. He also competed for the U.S. in the World Games in Bulgaria, taking first in the U.S. trials, and leading the other Americans at the Games. The only representative of the U.S. at the Canadian Milk Cup All-Star Championships, Young took 4th.
His senior year, 1976, he won the NCAA all-around, and went on to captain the U.S. team at the Olympics. There he finished 12th-the best finish of any U.S. gymnast in 40 years.
In 1979, his second year of coaching at Odessa College in Texas, Young guided his team to the NJCAA championship berth, and was named NJCAA Coach of the Year as well. He has chaired the NCAA Gymnastics Committee since 1983.