Antonio Young joined the Amherst coaching staff in 2024 and enters his second season as the secondary coach in 2025.
Young came to Amherst with five years of prior coaching experience. Prior to joining the Mammoths, he worked as a recruiting analyst for a Division II historically Black university in Virginia. In the fall of 2023, Young worked with the defensive backs at Nichols College in Dudley. The defensive backs accounted for eight interceptions as the Nichols defense tied for second in the conference with 10 Interceptions and led the conference in interception return yards (159). Young coached Derrick Revolus, a 2022 All-New England safety, to lead the conference in interceptions (4) and defensive touchdowns, and rank fourth overall in passes defended (7). Revolus was named CCC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 of the 2023 season. First-year Jonathan Ferrara and Revolus both recorded multiple interceptions in a game under Young’s coaching.
Young spent two seasons with Abby Kelley Charter High School coaching defensive backs & running backs. In his first year, Young was pass game coordinator and facilitated collegiate recruitment for the Bears, sending Bryce Kissi to Rutgers as a successful preferred walk-on. Promoted to interim defensive coordinator in the final three games of the 2021 season, Young’s defense recorded eight sacks, two Interceptions, a defensive touchdown and one shutout. The punt team accounted for two touchdowns and 434 return yards.
In his second season with the Bears, Young took over as the defensive coordinator. The 2022 season showed immediate program improvement as the Bears started the season 3-0 for the first time in school history allowing only 30 points and boasting one shutout. The team set a school record in wins, allowed only 41 rushing yards in Week 2 and allowed fewer than 50 passing yards in Weeks 3 and 5. The defense under Young’s command totaled 27 sacks, 61 tackles for loss, 16 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. Young coached seven All-League and four Division 8 All-Stars in two seasons.
Young played professional indoor football for the New England Bobcats and New Hampshire Calvary in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, Young and the Bobcats won the EIF Rhino Bowl and Young received the team’s Ninth Man of the Year award. In 2019, the Calvary won the New England Arena League Championship while Young was named Co-Defensive MVP of the league as a safety. While excelling in the arena, Young also contributed to the community, attending five community engagement events by participating in local field day events for the youth of Lowell, volunteering with Toys for Tots Lowell, and delivering food to families during Thanksgiving and Christmas for the Lowell Food Shelf.
While playing for the Calvary, Young was head of the personal training department and held the title of assistant manager of club operations for Crunch Fitchburg.
Young’s coaching career started at his alma mater Becker College in 2015 where he worked as a volunteer on the defense during his fifth year as a student under defensive coordinator Frank Forcucci. That year the team went 7-3, setting a program record in wins. Young took an unpaid position in the spring season of 2016 as the defensive line coach and transitioned into a paid position in the fall of 2016.
Young coached defensive line and outside linebackers for the run game and coached Preseason All-American nose tackle Alexander Stewart, who recorded 64 tackles, 36 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. Stewart received First Team All-Conference, Worcester All-Area Team and Week 10 ECFC Player of the Week honors. First-year Christian Perkins received Week 2 ECFC Player of the Week and ECFC All-Freshman Team honors in 2016 under Young’s guidance. Young coached four All-Conference defensive players and two All-Academic players.
Young is a graduate of Becker College with a bachelor of science in psychology and holds a masters certificate in human resource management from Fitchburg State. As a player, Young was a started in 26 games for the Hawks, recorded 60 tackles and was a defensive captain as a senior. He was invited to the Division Three All-American Game in January 2015 and was recognized as a Worcester Gazette All-Area Honorable Newcomer as a freshman in 2011.
A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Young graduated from Enfield High School in 2011. A three-sport athlete, Young was a senior captain for the football and wrestling teams at EHS. The Raiders football team finished the 2010 season second in the conference and ninth in Class M. Young was also an NCC All-Conference wrestler ranked in the top 10 in Class M.
Young resides in Gardner with his wife Sarah, daughter Scarlett and stepson Ayden.
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