Mo Young ’19 serves as a campus safety officer and assistant football coach for the outside linebackers at The University of Olivet. It was his passion for football that originally brought him to OC as a student. Mo played four years of football for the Comets, even serving as a team captain during his senior year and a member of the team’s Leadership Council for two years. After his final season, Mo interned with the football team, helping coach the inside linebackers, leading him to start his career at Olivet.
Why do you love The University of Olivet?
The reason I love The University of Olivet is because it gave me an opportunity to continue my football career past high school. I had great professors and coaches who really cared about me and helped me excel in the classroom when I didn’t know I could.
What is your favorite memory from your time at OC?
I have two — winning back-to-back MIAA Championships as a part of the football team in 2015 and 2016, and being the first-ever recipient of the Extra Mile Award on the football team.
What is your coaching style like?
When coaching, I like to be very straightforward with my players, as well as very detail-oriented.
Why do you encourage students to attend OC?
The family-like atmosphere at The University of Olivet is second to none. You will know a familiar face in every room you enter, and everyone is willing to help you.
What’s the average day in your role, or some of the unique things you are responsible for?
Each day varies when you’re a football coach and campus safety officer. My responsibilities for football include watching lots of film, checking in with my players to ensure everything is going well, not only on the field but in life too, preparing for game days and making sure that I am completely focused and ready on game days. My role as a campus safety officer also widely varies, but our staff aims to ensure that the campus is always safe in every way.
Where do your passions for football and coaching stem from?
My passion for football stems from my entire family playing while I was growing up. Both of my uncles played Division I football, and I also had two older cousins play at the collegiate level. At the age of seven, my dad first got me into playing football. I absolutely hated it during the first three days of practice because of all the running we had to do — but that fourth day when we put pads on … I fell in love with the game of football.
What advice do you share with students?
I always tell students to make sure they take advantage of all the opportunities that are offered to students at The University of Olivet. The faculty, staff and coaches truly care about you and will do anything that they can to help you succeed in life.
What do you look forward to in your role?
Recently, I was given the title of outside linebackers coach. I am excited to start working with this position group and see what great things we are able to accomplish in the upcoming season.
What is an interesting or little-known fact about yourself?
I have a Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Brodie, who is named after Russell Westbrook.
Learn more about The University of Olivet by contacting the Office of Admissions at 800-456-7189 or admissions@uolivet.edu.
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