Danny Young begins his seventh season as head coach of the University of Montevallo men's basketball program. Last season, he guided the Falcons to their sixth consecutive Gulf South Conference Tournament.

The program has transformed into one of the stronger NCAA Division II programs in the country. In a four year span, the Falcons appeared in two "Elite Eight" appearances, four consecutive NCAA Division II South Regional Tournaments, including back-to-back regional championships in 2006 and 2007, as well as three Gulf South Conference championships (2004, 2005 and 2007).

The sixth head coach in the 44-year history of the program, Young arrived on the Montevallo's campus in the summer of 2003. That season, with only one returning player, Young molded his first Falcons squad into a solid competitive unit, winning 19 more games than the previous year's team, and posting the biggest turn-around in UM basketball history, tying a school best 23 wins. The team also went on to win their first-ever Gulf South Conference championship, and to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

He has been named Gulf South Conference East Division Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2005-06-07) and was named South Region Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2007.  He also had the opportunity to coach in the inaugural Collegiate Basketball Invitational, spotlighting the top small college men's basketball players in the country (NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA) in the spring of 2007.

Prior to UM, Young was Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach at Salem International University in Salem, West Virginia. He was associated with the Top-20 ranked SIU program for seven years, and posted a 51-11 (.823) record in two seasons as head coach. His first collegiate victory came while still an assistant coach, as he led SIU to victory over West Liberty State University. in a game that the head coach was suspended. He guided the Tigers to a No. 18 NCAA Division II final national ranking in 2003, but SIU made it as high as No. 4 earlier in the season and appeared in the Top Ten both of his seasons as head coach. Young's team also won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and went to the NCAA East Regional appearance, finishing with a 25-6 record overall in 2002-03. He also had a 138-21 (.867) record in five seasons as an assistant coach with the Tigers from 1996-2001, which included three WVIAC championships, two NCAA Division II East Region Championships, one NCAA "Sweet 16" appearance and one NCAA Division II "Final Four" appearance.

Prior to SIU, Young served as an assistant at Wheeling Jesuit University from 1994-96, and spent a season as an assistant at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Young's first coaching job came when he returned to his alma mater, Grand Canyon University, for three seasons as an assistant after playing two years professionally. While there, he helped the Antelopes to a 62-28 (.689) record including two appearances in the NCAA Division II West Regional.

In his coaching tenure, Young has coached nine All-Americans and six Conference Player of the Year selections. Former UM standout Marcus Kennedy became the first player in Gulf South Conference history to be named Division Player of the Year twice in a four-year career under Young. In his career, Young has guided teams to an NCAA Division II Regional Tournament 13 times, including 11 of the last 12 years.

A native of Duncan, Arizona, and standout athlete in high school, Young earned Honorable Mention All-American honors and was also nominated to the McDonald's All-American Basketball Team. In college, Young was coached by former NBA player, Paul Westphal. He later earned his bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Grand Canyon University in 1990.

Young and his wife Sabrina reside in Pelham with their children Caleb, Sophia and Cole.

MONTEVALLO, Ala. - Ryan Powell has been named the new men's basketball assistant coach at the University of Montevallo.

Powell will join head coach Danny Young as they guide their team in its inaugural Peach Belt Conference campaign. The Falcons are coming off another productive season after making it to their sixth-straight trip to the Gulf South Conference Tournament. 

"I am very excited to have Ryan (Powell) join the Montevallo basketball family," said coach Young. "I think that he will bring a lot of enthusiasm, positive attitude and an eagerness to learn. He is a great addition to our program."

Powell will bring great credentials to the Falcon men's basketball program having been assistant basketball coach at Jones Community Junior College from 2006-2007, graduate assistant coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe during the 2007-2008 season and most recently graduate assistant coach at the University of Alabama this past season. At these institutions Powell was heavily involved with the running of the program and gained valuable expertise in on the floor coaching, day-to-day operations, player development, scouting and recruiting, and also player academics.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to work with coach (Danny) Young and be a part of Montevallo Basketball," said Powell. "I can't wait for the season to get started so I can continue to learn about the game of basketball from such a proven and successful head coach. I am definitely ready to help coach Young continue his success here at the University of Montevallo."

Powell himself had an illustrious basketball career, particularly at high school in which he lettered at Clarke County High School from 1998-2001. Here, he was voted 4-A State High School Player of the Year his senior season. In 2005, Powell completed his collegiate career at Auburn University of Montgomery in 2005 and further graduated in December 2006 with his Bachelor of Science and Education.

Powell received his masters of Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Alabama this past August.