Selwyn Young begins his 15th season as head baseball coach for the Benedict Tigers.
He is Benedict's all-time winningest baseball coach with 251 wins His record over eight seasons is 251-226 for a .526 winning percentage. He won his 100th game in 2013 and became a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Century Club. He won his 200th game in 2017 and was honored by the Benedict Booster Club with their Annual Outstanding Achievement Award.
He built the baseball field that the Tigers play on, competing their 5th year playing there, and has now added a brand new completed construction of an outfield wall, with school colors built, financed and donated by Coach Young.
No school in NCAA history has put up the stolen base numbers that Benedict College has under Young. During his 10 years with the Tigers, they have stolen a total of 2,147 bases. Benedict holds the top five spots in the NCAA Division II record book for season stolen bases. They all took place during a 5-year period from 2009-2013 when the Tigers stole 1,371 bases. The Tigers swiped 334 bases in 403 attempts over 41 games during the 2013 season to rank No. 1 in NCAA Div. 2 history. During the 2022 season, Benedict once again led the NCAA in stolen bases with 272. Bradon O'Connor broke the NCAA single season record for stolen bases with 97.
In 2022, a rebuilding year for the Tigers, O'Connor was named the Player of the Year by Black College Nines, a media outlet that focuses on and promotes HBCU baseball. He became the second Tiger to earn Player of the Year award, joining David White, who won the award in 2017. The Tigers had a 3.1 GPA and were recognized by the American Baseball Coaches Association with their Academic Excellence Award.
In 2018, the Tigers stole their 2,000th base during Coach Young's nine seasons. Benedict led the NCAA in stolen bases per game for the seventh time in nine years. During the summer, Coach Young managed the Plattsburgh Redbirds, a professional team in the Empire Pro League, to the playoffs and winning the league's batting title. Former Benedict players Andrew McCoy, Armando Valentin, Sammy Carter and Brandon Young, Coach Young's son, were members of the Redbirds.
In 2017, the Tigers finished in second place in the SIAC East Division, and had an overall record of 25 and 16. Benedict advanced to the SIAC Conference Tournament for the ninth year in a row.
Benedict led the SIAC in team batting average, earned run average, home runs, stolen bases and scoring. Benedict also was crowned the NCAA national scoring champion, averaging 9.8 runs per game. This is the third time under Young's tenure Benedict has led the nation in scoring, previously winning in 2011 (8.9 runs per game) and 2013 (10.1 runs per game).
Under Young’s tenure, the Tigers also excel academically. Benedict was the SIAC Academic Champion for baseball with a team GPA of 3.78.
His players were recognized for several conference, regional and national awards. First baseman David White Jr. was named to the Black College Nines All Elite team for the second year in a row along with winning the National Player of the Year Award, SIAC Player of the Year and 1st team All SIAC. Pitcher Robert Troiano III was also named 2nd team All Black College Nines Elite and All South Region. Outfielder Andrew McCoy led the nation in triples per game and was named 1st team All SIAC and made 3 different All South Region teams.
In 2016, the Tigers went 27-16 and were ranked No. 1 in the Black College Baseball poll for much of the season. Benedict finished ranked No. 7 in the final Black College Baseball poll and No. 6 in final Palmetto State Baseball poll. Benedict finished fourth in the SIAC East Division and went to the SIAC Conference Championship for the seventh consecutive year.
Ten Tigers were named to the Palmetto Baseball All-State team, while placing four on the All-SIAC team. Relief pitcher Yaniel Delgado was named SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year. Delgado was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. David White Jr. was named All-Conference and to the Black College Baseball All-American team after batting .408 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs.
In 2015, the Tigers won the SIAC East Division and were the top seed for the SIAC Tournament. Young was named SIAC Coach of the Year for the second time in six years. Under his leadership, Yaniel Delgado was named SIAC Relief Pitcher of the Year and had three players selected to the SIAC
All-Conference team and seven players selected to the Palmetto All State team.
Young not only coaches a winning program, but stresses academics. The Tigers had 17 out of 25 players with a 3.0 GPA or better.
In 2014, the Tigers stole 207 bases and led the NCAA in stolen bases and stolen bases per game for the sixth consecutive year. Daniel Young was named SIAC Utilityman of the year, the fourth straight year a Benedict player has received this award. Benedict also had six players make the Palmetto All State team and placed three players on the All SIAC team.
2014 was also Young's second consecutive year as a Head Coach in the Beach Collegiate Baseball League for the Conway Cadets. The BCBL is a wood bat Collegiate league in Mrytle Beach, S.C.
In 2013, the Tigers set six NCAA records, and have set 12 total NCAA records under Young. The Tigers stole an NCAA record 335 bases in 2013 and became the only team in NCAA Division II history to steal more than 300 bases, accomplishing the feat for the second time in three years after stealing 316 in 2010. In 2013 , Benedict led the NCAA Division II in four national statistical categories: scoring (10.1 runs per game); stolen bases (335); stolen bases per game (8.1); and on-base percentage (.470). Benedict also won the SIAC batting title with a .357 average which was also ranked third in the NCAA.
Under Young's leadership, the Tigers set the NCAA single game stolen base record with 32 and the single-inning stolen base record with 15. The Tigers also set a new NCAA record for stolen bases attempted with 408 and are part of the single-game combined teams stolen base record of 50. Benedict also set the NCAA record of 8.1 stolen bases per game in 2013.
Nine players from the 2013 squad made the Palmetto All State Team and six were named All-SIAC, including five on the first team. Lydell Moseby was named SIAC Utility Man of the Year along with making several All Region teams and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America team. Moseby signed a professional baseball contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. First baseman David Weber and outfielder Jocquese Brunson were also named All Region. Second baseman Kevin Davis led the NCAA in three categories: Runs per game, stolen bases and stolen bases per game. First baseman David Weber also led the NCAA in three categories: Walks, walks per game and on-base percentage.
Since coming to Benedict College, Coach Young and the 2010 Tiger baseball team have built an on-campus baseball field. Young was named SIAC Coach of the Year in 2010, and named the 2010 and 2011 Male Employee of the Year for Benedict College’s Athletic Department.
Young coached the Tigers to a school-record 32 victories in 2010. The Tigers played in the SIAC Conference Championship game and finished second in the SIAC in 2010. In 2011, Benedict was named the 2011 Black College Baseball Regular Season National Champions, won the 2011 SIAC East Division and was the No. 1 seed in the SIAC Conference Tournament. The Tigers won 19 straight games during the 2011 season, another school record, and finished 19-1 in SIAC Conference play.
In 2011, the Tigers led the NCAA with 6.07 stolen bases per game. The National Collegiate Baseball Magazine did a front page feature article on the Tigers called the “Amazing Base Stealing Machine.” A quote from the article: “In the history of college baseball, no team has ever stolen bases at the rapid clip Benedict College has this season.” Over the last three seasons, the Benedict College Tigers have swiped 739 bases.
Also in 2011 the Tigers won the national scoring title with an 8.9 runs per game average. Their .339 team batting average was ranked 5th nationally, the third consecutive year the Tigers have finished in the top 10 nationally in batting. The Tigers have won back-to-back SIAC Batting and Defensive Titles.
In 2012, the Tigers continued to set records. Benedict set an NCAA record with 24 stolen bases in a single game and broke their own record with 7.19 stolen bases per game.
In 2010, seven players made the Palmetto All-State team. First baseman Corey Bryant was named 2010 SIAC Player of the Year. Pitcher Toure Harris was named Most Outstanding Pitcher in the SIAC Tournament for 2010. Utility man Brandon Gipson was named All-American in 2011. Benedict has back-to-back top five national finishes in the final Black College Baseball Poll. 2012 saw two All-Americans in David Weber and Michael Jordan. Weber led the SIAC in batting average, giving Young three batting champions in four years. Weber also led Division II in RBIs per game. Jordan led the NCAA in stolen bases and stolen bases per game.
Young hails from Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Belmont High School, where he was a three-sport varsity letterman. He was named "All City" shortstop his senior season as well as being an All-League defensive back in football. School honors included being named Belmont's "Athlete of the Year" in 1976. After high school, Young played for the 1977 Los Angeles City College Cubs at shortstop. A 30-game hitting streak that year helped him earn a full scholarship to Pepperdine University in Malibu. In 1980, he set the single season record for stolen base percentage at .952 with 20 out of 21 stolen bases. That team was inducted into Pepperdine's prestigious Hall of Fame in 1999. The 1979 Waves were the first Pepperdine team to win a berth in the NCAA College World Series.
Young played professional baseball 10 years beginning with the Oakland A's organization in 1981, where he was a part of three consecutive Minor League Championships. He also played with the Baltimore Orioles, the Mexican Major Leagues, and several independent leagues before hanging up his glove in 1995 while under a MLB contract with the Seattle Mariners. He was also a part-time scout for the Cincinnati Reds, and the Seattle Mariners.
Young coached professionally, managing the Yuma Desert Dawgs in the Golden State Professional Baseball League. He served as the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners Area Code team for three seasons, and managed the Mariner Scout team for five seasons. He also coached the local RBI Scout Team for two seasons. For six years he served as the hitting and base running coach for the Santa Barbara Foresters' summer team. Under Young's guidance, the Foresters set the National stolen base record with 257 steals in 2001. In 2003, the Foresters won the National Baseball Congress, American National Championship, held in Wichita, Kansas.
Young has over 15 years of collegiate coaching prior to Benedict College at Compton College, Antelope Valley College, Santa Barbara City College, Oxnard College, Ventura College, and Los Angeles City College.
Young is a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, the California Community College Coaches Association, the Southern California Professional Baseball Scouts Association, and a Lifetime Member of the Professional Baseball Players of America. Young has been named Chairman of the East for the SIAC conference in baseball and represents the SIAC on the NCAA South Region baseball committee.
Baseball is a family affair for Young. His father, Fate Young, was a professional baseball scout for over 35 years. His younger brother, Delwyn, was selected in the second round by the Cincinnati Reds and played for 13 seasons. His nephew, Delwyn Jr., has been in professional baseball eight years and is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. His son, Selwyn Brandon Young, just completed his college career playing for his father for two seasons at Benedict College. Just recently, Selwyn Jr., signed a professional baseball contract with the Newark Bears in the Canam Baseball League keeping the Young family tradition going in professional baseball.
Young has 10 former players playing at the Major League level today. Including pitcher Matt Garza (Cubs), Dana Eveland (Dodgers), Coco Crisp (A’s), Jason Kubel (Twins), Kevin Frandsen (Phillies), Kevin Millar, Brett Hayes (Marlins), Delwyn Young (Phillies),Chris Petite (Angels) and former Red Sox James Lofton and former MLB World Series champ with the Red Sox and current host of MLB’s Intentional Talk.
Young also represented former A’s first round pick Richie Robnett in the 2005 MLB Annual June Draft and negotiated a multi-million dollar contract for Robnett under Young’s former Sports Agency, Sly Sports Management.
Coach Young has an AA from Antelope Valley College, a BA in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State College, a MSS in Sports Management from United States Sports Academy, and a MS in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University.
