Ralph Young
Michigan State's First Athletic Director

Michigan State's athletic director for 31 years, Ralph H. Young was a giant in his field and was cited for his high ideals and standards for excellence in intercollegiate athletics.

Ralph Young was born in Crown Point, Indiana. He played football, basketball and ran track in high school and college. At the University of Chicago, Young played football for legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. After two years at Chicago, Young transferred to Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania where he played for three seasons, while also setting records on the track team in the shot-put, discuss, hammer throw and javelin.

In 1916, Young became the athletic director, professor of physical education, coach of football, basketball and track at Kalamazoo College. After seven successful years, Young was hired as the athletic director and coach of four sports (including football) at Michigan State in1923.

Under his leadership, Michigan State's athletic programs rose to national prominence. He increased the athletic department staff to fourteen, and developed a solid scope and quality of intercollegiate athletics at Michigan State. The culmination of this growth came when Michigan State was admitted to the Western Conference, to be renamed the Big Ten Conference, in 1949.

Young retired from Michigan State in 1954. He went on to serve three terms in the Michigan legislature, representing the East Lansing district. Ralph Young passed away on January 23, 1962. Young was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1962, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979, and the Kalamazoo College Hall of Fame in 1986.

The Ralph Young name remains strong in the hearts and minds of MSU alumni, fans and friends. The athletic scholarship fund is named in honor of Ralph Young, as is the Michigan State outdoor track and field complex on Shaw Lane next to Spartan Stadium.