Battle girls basketball coach takes the reins at Central Methodist University
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Central Methodist University announced the new leader of its women's basketball program on Monday afternoon and it might be a name Mid-Missourians recognize.
Battle girls basketball coach Dustyn Yung is set to take over the Eagles women's basketball program, beginning in the 2024-25 season. He will be the 10th head coach in program history.
You can watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones's full interview with Yung in the video player below.
Yung spent three seasons at the helm of Spartan girls basketball and guided his teams to some pretty memorable moments in that time. He coached an All-State player, six All-District players and five All-Conference Selections in Columbia.
He made an immediate impact when he got hired in 2021, as he posted three-straight winning seasons, taking the program to new heights, including leading the Spartans to their first-ever win against a crosstown foe: the Rock Bridge Bruins.
In a statement addressed to the Battle community, Yung said, "it is hard to find the words to express how much the last three years have meant to me. The relationships, friendships and memories will never be forgotten and truly cherished," he said. "We all have dreams and my dreams have become a reality!"
It won't be his first stop at the collegiate level, though. Before coaching at Battle, Coach Yung served as an the assistant coach at Moberly Area Community College for a couple of years. He also spent three seasons at the Director of Basketball Operations at Bradley University.
In his time with the Moberly Greyhounds, the team won both the Region 16 and District Championship in 2020 and qualified for back-to-back Division I National Tournaments, in 2020 and 2021.
It'll be a homecoming for Yung, as he attended CMU for both undergrad and grad school, finishing his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Central in 2013. He earned his Masters of Edcuation in Athletic Administration in 2015.
In his time as a graduate student, he served on the women's basketball coaching staff for two years with the Eagles. Yung was also a student assistant from 2011-13 and was apart of the 2013 team that qualified for the first-ever NAIA Division I National Tournament in program history.
"I am beyond excited to return to Central Methodist University as the new Head Women's Basketball Coach," Yung said in a statement."This opportunity has come full circle, as I graduated from CMU, began my coaching career at CMU, and now am returning to lead the women's basketball program, which is a dream come true."
Yung officially begins his coaching duties on June 3rd.
