Robby Young, a 2003 graduate of Wayland High School, has guided the Michigan Technological University cross-country team to its third trip in school history to the NCAA National Championships Nov. 23 in Sarcamento, Calif. Young, head coach of the cross-country and track teams, has been at the helm for two of the national tournament bids.
After graduating from Wayland, Young was an All-American in cross-country for Grand Valley State University and in the steeplechase in track. He then took jobs teaching earth science and physics at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs and coaching cross and track for the Rams, winning seven league championships. He was hired as track and cross coach at Michigan Tech after earning his master’s degree from the University of Missouri.
Young’s team from two years ago finished a school-best 10th pace in the NCAA championships. His team this year won an automatic bid by finishing among the top three schools at the NCAA regionals at Lewis University, Romeoville, Ill.
He and his wife, Sarah , also a GVSU graduate, and 6-year-old son, Corvid, live in Houghton, Mich.