Racers thrilled to have KTG back in Murray
WBB: Young has returned to Murray State to join Rechelle Turner's coaching staff
When Katelyn Young walked off the floor at the CFSB Center one final time during Murray State’s win over Southern Illinois back in March, Racer fans thought it would be the last time they got to see her at The Bank for a while.
Fast-forward six months and seven days and Murray State’s GOAT was back.
After several months of playing professionally in Australia, Young decided to close the book on her playing career. On September 8th, Murray State Head Coach Rechelle Turner announced Young would be coming back to Murray to join her coaching staff. As fired up as Young was to take on her new role, her former teammates may have been even more excited.
“It was insane,” Murray State senior guard Briley Pena said about her reaction to finding out the news. “I was just like, ‘Oh my gosh. I’m so excited.’ Obviously, I’ve been with her since I got here. She’s one of those comfort people. I’ve been here, she’s been here. It’s kind of exciting just to have her back and (she’s) somebody that I can talk to and stuff like that.”
Young’s #31 hanging from the rafters of the CFSB Center certainly provides her instant credibility with the players she will now coach. For the Racers she played with, they’re looking forward to the opportunity to soak up even more knowledge from KTG.
“She’s given us wisdom,” Murray State junior guard Haven Ford said. “(She’s) someone I can still go talk to at any point in time. Still having her presence here has been a lot. Even with our new posts, that’s going to be a huge help for them, just having her around for the program. You guys know all that she did (when she played), but the behind the scenes of being around her just as much is great as well. Still having her here has been great.”
“She’s just so knowledgeable,” Pena added. “How she says it, it’s very easy to listen to. It was so much fun playing with her, and now playing for her and her helping us and teaching us, it’s going to help us a lot.”
During Young’s playing days, she developed a very close relationship with Ford. While that relationship has needed to evolve a bit with Young now taking on a coaching role, Ford is thrilled to have one of her best friends back in the building.
“It’s been great,” Ford said. “Nothing with Katelyn has changed. The only thing is just not playing with her.”