End of an era – MJC’s Young moves on to UC Davis

Sam Young could not pass up the chance to return home.

Young, the former Modesto Junior College head football coach, a veteran of 26 seasons and the winningest coach in school history, has accepted a position under new UC Davis coach Dan Hawkins.

It’s a back-to-the-future move for Young, 61, who cut his coaching teeth at UC Davis – his alma mater – when both he and Hawkins served as assistant coaches under Jim Sochor with the Aggies in the early 1980s.

When Hawkins was introduced as the new UC Davis coach last month, he was surprised by Young’s presence and called him to the podium. Sure enough, Hawkins hired him as a consultant.

“I’ll give advice and prepare for our opponents each week,” Young said. “There will be a lot of film study, which I like doing.”

Finding the ideal time to say farewell to MJC was impossible, Young admitted, but the opportunity at Davis was too enticing. In fact, Hawkins – while he was building a powerhouse at Boise State – offered Young a job in 2001. Young, two seasons into his head-coaching tenure at MJC, declined. But not this time.

“It’s the right place for me at the right time,” Young said. “Going to UC Davis was a life-changing event for me. I love that place. Anytime I can help Davis, it brings me great pleasure.”

Young, the defensive coordinator this season as the Pirates went 8-3 and won the Valley Conference title, announced his move at MJC’s annual football awards dinner Thursday night.

With that, Young ends his long run on the MJC staff. He arrived with fellow UC Davis coach Steve Da Prato at Modesto in 1990. Da Prato was the Pirates’ head coach through 1999, then was succeeded by Young from 2000-14. Young’s teams won Golden Gate Conference titles in 2007 and ’08, advanced to eight bowl games and won 93 games.

“Steve and I were a part of one of the most successful eras for MJC football. I’m most proud of that,” Young said. “I will always want the Pirates to win as much possible.”

Young, a native of Porterville, retired from MJC after the 2014 season, though he remained on the staff as a linebackers coach in 2015 and defensive coordinator this year.

MJC head coach Rusty Stivers, a running back for the Pirates while Young started his MJC career, said Young will help Modesto during spring football. After that, Modesto must cope without one of its best leaders.

“He’s really like a living legend. I consider myself a disciple of him. The majority of football that I know came from him,” Stivers said. “To say we’ll miss him is a major understatement. It was a no-brainer for him. You can’t say no twice.”

This story was originally published December 15, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "End of an era – MJC’s Young moves on to UC Davis."