Having tendered his resignation in May, giving up all that he had known for 20-plus years at Mingus Union High School, Bob Young is back.
Confirmed by Mingus Athletic Director Mike Boysen on Friday, July 1, Young is returning to coach the Marauders football program for the fall 2011 season, and possibly beyond.
“I was told this morning by our superintendent and our principal that he was, in fact, coming back,” Boysen said Friday.
Mingus players and coaching staff were alerted Thursday, June 30, of Young coming back, with Boysen and company confirming early Friday morning.
Young resigned May 27 after being lured by Prescott High School Athletic Director Bill White to coach the Badger football program.
On June 1, Young released a statement in the Cottonwood Journal Extra, stating, “At this part of my life, I was getting stagnant. I felt I wasn’t getting better as a coach, and that I was coasting.”
Welcome back to coasting.
Whether he coasts, or gets better as a coach this coming season, the Marauders and their coaching staff are just happy to have him back.
“I was happy to do it, but I’m glad he’s back. I’d rather be an assistant. This is what I’m good at,” longtime Mingus assistant coach Neil Dixon said.
Dixon was the interim head coach for Mingus for about two weeks before being named the man in charge June 22. Less than 10 days later, Young reclaimed his title as head coach.
“I’m coming back. Yeah, I know it’s kind of goofy, but things worked out for me to come back. I’ve decided to come back because of my family,” Young said in a voicemail message Friday.
Young is 68-21 since 2004 at Mingus and has led the Marauders to the state playoffs six straight seasons.
Young brought home a state championship in 1997 and came close in 2007 when the Marauders started 13-0 before losing to Notre Dame Preparatory Academy in the title game at Cardinals Stadium.
Mingus was 9-3 in 2010, defeating No. 11 Greenway High School in the first round of the 4A-II conference state playoffs in November, 28-21. The Marauders lost to No. 3 Notre Dame the following week in the quarterfinals, 42-14.
Young led the Mingus baseball team to a state title in 2009, and stepped down as head coach to take the pitching coach job under first-year Head Coach Kent Winslow this past spring.
No official word was released regarding whether Young will retain his position as pitching coach for the Marauders.
