Antonio Young enters his first season as Head Coach of the Women's Flag Football program. He is also entering his first season as Defensive Coordinator for the Football program. He was hired in the summer of 2026.
Coach Young brings a wealth of experience to the Bulldogs. Prior to Dean, he served as an Assistant Coach with Amherst College. In 2025, he coached the Mammoths' wide receivers and returners, helping guide Carter Jung and Christian Moore to Second Team All-NESCAC honors. Amherst led the NESCAC in completions (204), generated more than 2,000 yards of offense through the passing game, and ranked among the nation's top 50 NCAA Division III programs in total completions.
"Antonio Young is a proven leader whose experience and football knowledge make him an outstanding addition to our department," Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Geoff Lerner expressed. "His ability to serve as both the Head Coach of our new women's flag football program and Defensive Coordinator for football speaks to the versatility and expertise he brings. We are excited about the energy, culture, and competitive excellence he will bring to both programs."
Prior to coaching receivers, Young worked with Amherst's defensive backs in 2024, developing First Team All-NESCAC safety and team MVP Luke Harmon. The secondary recorded six interceptions and 23 pass breakups while producing seven NESCAC All-Academic selections.
Before Amherst, Young spent the spring and summer of 2024 as a Recruiting Analyst and Defensive Line assistant at a Virginia HBCU, assisting with recruiting operations, prospect evaluations, player personnel, and spring football activities.
"The addition of Coach Young instantly makes this football program a better one," Head Football Coach Luke Bakanowsky said. "I'm extremely confident he will put our defense in a spot to be successful and to win ball games. More importantly, Coach Young is a true family man who will care for our players in such a deep and genuine way. We're lucky to have him and excited to hit the ground running!"Â
Young coached defensive backs and served as Defensive Pass Game Coordinator at Nichols College during the 2023 season. Under his guidance, the secondary recorded eight interceptions and 15 pass breakups as Nichols finished second in the conference in interceptions and first in interception return yardage.
From 2021-22, Young served as Recruiting Coordinator, Interim Defensive Coordinator, and Defensive Coordinator at Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School. His defenses helped produce the first 3-0 start in school history and a program-record season for wins in 2022. Over two seasons, he coached seven All-League selections and multiple Division 8 All-Stars while helping establish one of the conference's top defensive units.
Young began his coaching career at his alma mater, Becker College, where he served as a volunteer quality control assistant in 2015 before becoming Defensive Line Coach in 2016. He helped develop several All-Conference players, including ECFC Defensive Player of the Year Alexander Stewart, while contributing to a program-record seven-win season.
As a player, Young was a four-year contributor and team captain at Becker before continuing his professional career with the New England Bobcats and New England Calvary. He earned team MVP honors during a championship season with the Bobcats and was later named Co-Defensive MVP of the New England Arena League while helping the Calvary win a league championship.
A native of Enfield, Young earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Becker College and a Master's Certificate in Human Resource Management from Fitchburg State University.
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