Recruits: New Jersey (North), Texas (Dallas), New Mexico and Utah
Chris Young is in his fifth season as offensive coordinator and his 16th year on the Colgate coaching staff.
Last year, he coached quarterback Grant Breneman to Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors as the Raiders rolled to their ninth conference championship. Breneman wrapped up one of the best campaigns by a first-year quarterback in Colgate Football history after completing 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,594 yards and 18 touchdowns against just five interceptions.
His 18 TD passes tied him for fifth-best by a Raiders quarterback in one season and were the most since 2009. Breneman for his efforts was named one of 20 finalists for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award presented to the national rookie of the year.
Young spent his first 11 years at Colgate coaching wide receivers for the Raiders. His guidance in the 2012 campaign helped propel the Raiders to their seventh Patriot League championship, as the Colgate offense set numerous records both through the air and on the ground.
During his tenure, Young has tutored nine All-Patriot League First Team selections (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010), two Second Team picks (2006 and 2012), and had both starting wide receivers named All-Patriot League in 2005 -- the first time in league history that occurred.
During the 2003 season, both J.B. Gerald and Luke Graham broke the school record for receptions in a season on the team's way to a 15-1 record and berth in the NCAA Division I-AA (FCS) Championship Game. Graham for his efforts was named All-League First Team.
In 2004, Graham and Dwayne Long were named All-Patriot League First Team as Colgate finished 7-4. In 2005, Long again was named All-League First Team as the Raiders won the Patriot League title. In 2006 and 2007, Erik Burke was awarded All-League recognition. In 2008, Pat Simonds was named first team All-League and Offensive MVP after breaking the school record for receiving yards in a season as the Raiders won the Patriot League championship and advanced to the NCAA playoffs. Simonds became only the fifth player in Colgate history to go over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. In 2009, he set the school record for touchdown receptions (15) in a single season while going over the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive year, helping the Raiders to a 9-2 season.
In 2010, Doug Rosnick was selected All-League under Young’s tutelage while leading the Raiders in touchdown receptions and receiving yards. In 2011, an inexperienced crew of receivers improved as the season progressed. Eventually three of those receivers caught over 20 passes. With two of those receivers topping 30 receptions.
During his career, Young has also shown a willingness to expand his coaching knowledge. As part of the NFL's Minority Internship Program, Young worked with the Kansas City Chiefs during the summer of 2011 to assist with the quarterbacks and wide receivers. Other stints have come in 2012 with the NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy; in 2013 with the Green Bay Packers' wide receivers and quarterbacks, and with the San Diego Chargers' wide receivers; and in 2015 with the Tennessee Titans.
Young came to Colgate from Albany, where he worked with the Great Danes' tackles and tight ends. Prior to Albany, Young served on the Canisius staff as wide receivers coach during the 2002 season.
Young was a three-year letterwinner for Colgate while earning first team All-Patriot League honors in his senior season at tight end. He was a linebacker his first three seasons with the Raiders.
Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Young graduated from Colgate in 1997 with a degree in sociology and anthropology. He is married to Colgate women’s lacrosse head coach Heather Young. They have three daughters, Ela, Mia and Charli, and a son, A.J.
