Young steps down as Modesto JC football coach

Sam Young always has put his players ahead of himself.

To prove his point one more time, he waited until the end of the annual post-season awards dinner Sunday night to tell his Modesto Junior College football team that he will not return for the 2015 season.

“I think it is time for a new set of eyes and a new set of legs to move the program forward,” Young said. “It’s pretty scary (to step down), but better too soon than too late.”

Young, 59, the winningest coach in the 94-year history of the MJC football program, served as head coach for the past 15 years and was a part of the coaching staff for 24 years. His 93-67 head-coaching record, two league titles and seven bowl victories in 10 appearances will leave a daunting measuring stick for his successor.

School administrators were notified of Young’s decision last summer, but he did not alert his staff until last Monday, two days after the Pirates’ season-ending 73-28 victory over San Joaquin Delta. The final team Young walked onto the field finished 4-6 but tied for third in the Valley Conference and earned its first win over Fresno in 16 years.

Last year, MJC won at Santa Rosa for the Pirates’ first bowl victory on the road since the 11-0 team of 1980.

“Sam never got too emotionally excited. He always had the right midline,” said Rusty Stivers, the MJC offensive coordinator. “He could coach any position on the field.”

Young, a native of Porterville, graduated from UC Davis and later served on the Aggies’ staff alongside Steve Da Prato, Chris Petersen (Washington) and Gary Patterson (Texas Christian). When Da Prato came to MJC in 1990 and became the head coach a year later, he called on Young to lead the defense.

Da Prato’s resignation after the 1999 season became the opportunity that Young has called “a dream come true.”

Replacing Da Prato, whose win-loss percentage tops all MJC coaches, wasn’t easy.

But Young’s steady hand produced consistent success and inspired loyalty on his staff. Stivers has served in various capacities for 13 years, and defensive coordinator Drew Brown has been onboard for 16 years. Many of Young’s former players returned to help.

“He coached the coaches but let you do your thing,” Brown said. “He’s a straight-ahead guy. What you see is what you get.”

Though Young primarily was a defensive coach, he presided over a dramatic makeover of the offense since 2010. Stivers choreographed a transition into a fast-tempo attack not unlike Oregon. MJC, which has averaged 40 points and 500 yards a game during the past four years, has grown into one of the most prolific offenses in California.

“It was a conscientious decision. We had to find a way not to be tied to the passing game,” Young said. “Rusty’s connection with Nate Costa (former Oregon quarterback) helped us to emulate Oregon.”

Young also continued MJC’s reliance on local talent.

“I’m very proud that we kept our community college philosophy and stayed with our local athletes,” he said.

Another high point for Young was MJC’s return to the Valley Conference in 2010. The Pirates compete in the National Division, the upper tier of California football, and vie for a state title each season.

Though his announcement surprised his staff, Young hinted in recent years that he approached the end of his term. Interim athletic director Nick Stavrianoudakis said the process to find the new head coach will begin immediately. Stivers will pursue the job and Brown could become a candidate.

“To all my players, it is my hope that they had as much fun playing as I did coaching,” Young said. “It is my opinion, with our new administration in place, it will bring on a new era of growth and progress.”

This story was originally published November 23, 2014 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Young steps down as Modesto JC football coach."