Beloved Former OSU Football Coach Bill Young Dies At 74

Oklahoma State is mourning the loss of its beloved former football coach and defensive coordinator, Bill Young. He was 74 years old.

After an illustrious career as a player for the Cowboys, he graduated in 1968 and immediately joined the program as a coach. He first served as OSU’s junior varsity offensive coach and defensive line coach.

His coaching career spanned 50 years, including his stint as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. He coached at Kansas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ohio State, the Detroit Lions, among other schools across the country.

In his time at Oklahoma State, Young was a three-year starter and an Academic All-Big Eight player. As a defensive coordinator, he helped the Cowboys win a Big 12 title and Fiesta Bowl victory in 2011 and was an assistant when OSU won the Big Eight in 1976 under Jim Stanley.

"Bill Young was a first-class person, a first-class coach and he made the world a better place," said Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy.