Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame
Tom Young - Athletic Director and Coach - (1946-68)
Tom Young came to Western Carolina in 1946 as head football coach and athletic director and in a matter of months put football on the map while saving the athletic program from abolishment. He led the football team to three winning seasons in his first four years including school's first North State Conference championships in 1949. He retired from football in 1956, but continued as department's athletic director and an assistant football coach until retirement in 1968. Originally from Monroe, N.C., he was one of the state's best-known sports figures as he excelled as a player at the University of North Carolina, posted a phenomenal record at Lexington High and recruited and signed Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice while head coach at UNC.
