Ron Young is in his 18th season as a volleyball coach at Lindenwood in 2016-17, including his 15th season as the head coach of the women’s program.
Young, who was also the men’s head coach for 13 years, has won a combined 695 matches and 12 conference championships. He has led teams to their national tournaments 13 times, and has captured one national championship.
Young’s women’s program has an overall record of 352-190 over the last 14 years. The Lady Lions won seven conference championships while a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference and advanced to the NAIA National Championships in three out of the last four years at that level. The 2007 Lindenwood team was the best squad in program history with over 40 wins, and it advanced to the NAIA Quarterfinals.
Last season, Lindenwood was the most improved team in the MIAA as it increased its win total by 10 victories, and the Lady Lions tied for eighth in the conference standings.
Three players earned all-MIAA honors, including second-team selections for Kayla Guyot and Bailey Dvorak. Academically, 20 players were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, two were MIAA Scholar-Athletes, and one was a MIAA Academic Excellence Award winner.
In 2013 and 2014, the Lady Lions were rebuilding with two young squads. The program won 14 games in that span. In 2013, the Lady Lions tied for seventh in the final MIAA standings and just missed advancing to the MIAA Tournament. The team had one of the signature wins in program history with a 3-1 win over Nebraska-Kearney, a top-10 team in the national polls.
In 2014, two Lady Lions earned all-MIAA honors as Kayla Guyot and Shannon Doyle both earned honorable mention honors. Off the court, 17 players were named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, two were MIAA Scholar-Athletes, and one received the MIAA Academic Excellence Award.
Three Lindenwood players earned all-MIAA honors in 2013, led by a third-team selection for Kayla Guyot. A total of 18 players on the roster earned MIAA Academic Honor Roll honors, two were MIAA Scholar-Athletes, and one received the MIAA Academic Excellence award.
In 2012, Lindenwood went 15-17 overall against its first full NCAA Division II schedule. The Lady Lions won five matches in their first season as a member of the MIAA. Two Lindenwood players were named honorable mention all-MIAA. Academically, three players received the MIAA Excellence Award and 17 players were listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
In 2011, the women’s team had a successful transition season to the NCAA level. The Lady Lions went 27-13 on the year. Lindenwood capped off the year by winning the Lindenwood Transition Tournament against other schools that were also moving to the NCAA Division II level.
In the last four years in the NAIA, Lindenwood won 35 matches a year and had a winning percentage of .765. Besides the 2007 squad, the Lady Lions advanced to nationals in 2008 and 2010. Lindenwood won three conference championships and three conference tournaments in that span. The Lady Lions were undefeated in conference play for the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons and set a school record with 33 straight conference victories.
On the men’s side, Young compiled a career record of 342-112. He took the Lions to 10 NAIA National Invitational Tournaments. Young won his national championship in 2009 when the men’s squad captured the NAIA National Invitational Tournament. The Lions won their final 26 matches, including a 3-0 victory over California Baptist in the championship contest. Lindenwood finished that year with a 37-3 record. Besides the national championship in 2009, Lindenwood also reached the championship match in 2002, 2005, and 2006, and made semifinal appearances in five other seasons.
In 2013, Lindenwood began its first season as a member of the NCAA Division I-II Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA). The Lions went 5-9 and finished in sixth place. Among the wins was a 3-0 sweep over MIVA co-champion Lewis, the No. 7 team in NCAA Division I-II at that time. Lindenwood recorded a winning season with a 19-12 mark on the year, including a 15-game winning streak midway through the season.
Two men’s volleyball players were named to the second-team all-MIVA squad and 12 players on the roster were named to the MIVA academic all-conference team.
In 2012, Young led Lindenwood to an impressive 19-13 overall record during its transition season from the NAIA to the NCAA level. The Lions went 9-7 against NCAA Division I-II programs, including a 3-0 victory over Ball State in the final home match of the season.
In the team’s final six seasons at the NAIA level, Lindenwood averaged over 28 wins a season and had a winning percentage just under .800. In 2011, the Lions went 24-10 overall. After a slow start which included three losses to NCAA Division I programs, Lindenwood 22-5 for the rest of the season. The Lions, which won both the regular season and tournament conference championships, advanced through pool play at the national tournament before a 3-2 loss to the host school in the semifinals.
Young has won five conference Coach of the Year honors on the men’s side and four conference Coach of the Year awards on the women’s side. He was once the men’s National Coach of the Year and twice earned women’s Regional Coach of the Year honors.
Young’s resume includes a 20-year coaching career at the high school, junior national club and college levels. In 2001, he was honored by USA Volleyball with the Robert L. Lindsay Meritorious Service award for contributing outstanding participation, motivation, and other services in the promotion of volleyball.
Young is married to Lindenwood Athletics Trainer Delanie Young. He has three sons, Josh, Zach and Luke, and one daughter, Sarah.
Young's Lindenwood Women's Coaching Record:
| Year |
Overall |
Conference |
Notes |
| 2015 |
15-15 |
6-12 |
|
| 2014 |
5-25 |
2-20 |
|
| 2013 |
9-21 |
6-10 |
|
| 2012 |
15-17 |
5-13 |
|
| 2011 |
27-13 |
|
|
| 2010 |
35-14 |
9-2 |
NAIA National Tournament Appearance |
| 2009 |
29-12 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions |
| 2008 |
31-8 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions, NAIA National Tournament Appearance |
| 2007 |
41-8 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions, NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals |
| 2006 |
29-12 |
8-2 |
HAAC Champions |
| 2005 |
31-8 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions |
| 2004 |
25-15 |
7-3 |
|
| 2003 |
32-13 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions |
| 2002 |
28-9 |
10-0 |
HAAC Champions |
| Career |
352-190 |
103-62 |
|
