Helena Frye
The Brigham Young University Cougars, based in Provo, Utah, have a rich basketball history, fielding their first team in 1903. The Cougars joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023, for all sports except men's volleyball, which is part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. BYU has a strong basketball pedigree, with 27 conference championships and 29 NCAA tournament appearances. They have also produced NBA talent, including Jimmer Fredette and DeMarcus Harrison. The Cougars play their home games at the Marriott Center and are currently coached by Kevin Young, who was hired in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the team | BYU Cougars |
| University | Brigham Young University |
| Location | Provo, Utah |
| Year of fielding the first basketball team | 1903 |
| Number of varsity athletic teams | 21 |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Year of joining the Big 12 Conference | 2023 |
| Number of NCAA tournament appearances | 29 |
| Number of NIT championships | 2 |
| Number of conference championships | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
BYU Cougars basketball history
The Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars men's basketball team has a long and illustrious history, with roots stretching back to the early 20th century. The Cougars have competed in various conferences over the years and have established themselves as a consistent presence in college basketball's elite tier.
BYU first fielded a men's basketball team in the 1901–1902 season, but it wasn't until the 1920s that the program began to gain prominence. In the 1922–1923 season, the Cougars posted a 16–2 record, which remains one of the best in program history. This success continued into the 1930s, with the Cougars regularly competing against teams from across the country. During this era, BYU joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, where they would remain until 1958, winning five conference championships.
In 1959, BYU, along with other schools, founded the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). This move signaled a new era for the Cougars, as they began to establish themselves as a prominent force in college basketball. The Cougars quickly rose to dominance in the WAC, winning or sharing the regular-season title a remarkable 17 times between 1965 and 2001. This period also saw BYU make its first deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. In 1950 and 1951, the Cougars reached the Sweet Sixteen, and in 1981, they advanced to the Elite Eight.
The Cougars have also experienced success in recent years, particularly during their time in the Mountain West Conference (MWC) from 2000 to 2011. BYU won four MWC regular-season titles and two conference tournament championships during this period. The Cougars have made numerous NCAA Tournament appearances this century, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2011. BYU has also had several notable players in recent memory, such as Jimmer Fredette, who won multiple player-of-the-year awards in 2011, and Kyle Collinsworth, who set an NCAA single-season record for triple-doubles in 2015.
In 2011, BYU made the decision to leave the MWC and join the West Coast Conference (WCC). This move was driven in part by the desire to find a better fit for the university's other sports programs and to enhance the overall athletic profile of the school. The Cougars have experienced continued success in the WCC, regularly competing for conference championships and NCAA Tournament berths. Despite the challenges of competing in a new conference, BYU has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in the WCC.
Today, the BYU Cougars continue to be a prominent force in college basketball, with a passionate fan base and a rich history to build upon. The program has experienced success across multiple conferences and eras, and the Cougars show no signs of slowing down. With a combination of talented players, dedicated coaches, and a proud tradition, the BYU Cougars men's basketball team is poised to continue its winning ways for years to come.
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BYU Cougars in the Big 12 Conference
The BYU Cougars represent Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The university has 21 varsity athletic teams, all named the
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team has a rich history, with its first team fielded in 1903. Since then, the Cougars have won 1,786 games, ranking 12th among all Division I programs. The team has also made 29 NCAA tournament appearances, with its first in 1950. The Cougars have also won two NIT championships, in 1951 and 1966.
The BYU Cougars women's basketball team represents the university in the Big 12 Conference. The men's basketball team officially joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023, and played their first season in 2023-24, finishing fifth. The Cougars are set to host 10 league games at the Marriott Center in the 2024-25 season.
BYU was a member of the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2022, except for the football team which played independently. Prior to that, from 1999 to 2011, BYU was a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars have also previously competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference.
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BYU Cougars' NCAA tournament appearances
The Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with 32 appearances as of the 2025 season. The Cougars first fielded a basketball team in 1903 and joined their first conference, the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, in 1922.
The Cougars made their inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance in 1950, coming within just one point of reaching the national semifinals. The following year, in 1951, BYU returned to the NCAA Tournament and won the first of two NIT championships. The team has continued to find success in the tournament, making five more appearances under coach Stan Watts and winning a second NIT championship in 1966.
BYU experienced a period of dominance in the 2000s, reaching the NCAA Tournament three times under coach Steve Cleveland. This included a notable run in 2001. The Cougars continued their winning ways with the addition of standout players like Jimmer Fredette and DeMarcus Harrison in the late 2000s.
In recent years, BYU has maintained its reputation as a formidable opponent in the NCAA Tournament. In 2024, the Cougars earned a 6-seed in the tournament, defeating 11-seed VCU and 3-seed Wisconsin to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The team's success continued into 2025, with ESPN's #1 overall recruit, AJ Dybantsa, committing to BYU and helping the team secure its 32nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, affectionately known as March Madness.
The BYU Cougars men's basketball team has a proud tradition, consistently performing well in the NCAA Tournament throughout its history. With a strong recruiting class and dedicated coaches, the team looks poised to continue its success in the coming years.
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BYU Cougars' notable coaches
The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. The Cougars fielded their first basketball team in 1903 and joined their first athletic conference, the Rocky Mountain Conference, in 1921.
Since then, BYU has competed in several different conferences and is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference for all sports except men's volleyball, which is part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
Stan Watts
Stan Watts was the head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team when they made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1950. The Cougars came within one point of reaching the national semifinals. Under Watts' leadership, the 1951 BYU team built on this success, winning 28 games and once again qualifying for the NCAA tournament while also capturing the first of two NIT championships for the school.
Steve Cleveland
Steve Cleveland was hired as the head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team after a successful season, leading them to prominence. During Cleveland's tenure, the Cougars won multiple conference championships and reached the NCAA tournament three times. His teams also included two future NBA draft picks: Travis Hansen and Rafael Araujo.
Dave Rose
Dave Rose, who was previously co-captain of the University of Houston's 1983 "Phi Slama Jama" college basketball team, began his tenure as BYU's head coach with six straight 20-win seasons. Together with assistant coach Dave Rice, Rose successfully recruited standout players such as All-American Jimmer Fredette and DeMarcus Harrison.
LaVell Edwards
LaVell Edwards is a notable figure in BYU Cougars football. He served as the head football coach from 1972 to 2000, leading the Cougars to exceptional success. During his tenure, BYU won 19 conference championships, seven bowl games, and the national championship in 1984. The football stadium at BYU is named after him, honouring his remarkable contribution to the program.
Alvin Twitchell
Alvin Twitchell was the coach who resumed intercollegiate football games for BYU in 1920 after a 20-year ban on the sport. Under his guidance, the Cougars were admitted to the Rocky Mountain Conference in 1921 and achieved their first winning season in 1929.
G. Ott Romney
G. Ott Romney was recruited by BYU from Montana State University to become the head football coach. Together with his successor, Eddie Kimball, Romney ushered in a new era of Cougar football. During their tenure from 1928 to 1942, the Cougars compiled an impressive record of 65–51–12. The 1932 season stands out, with an 8–1 record and a dominant scoring margin, outscoring their opponents 188–50.
Hal Kopp
In the mid-1950s, BYU recruited Hal Kopp, the University of Rhode Island's head coach, to lead the Cougars football team. Under his guidance, the team achieved back-to-back winning seasons in 1957 and 1958, showcasing their improvement and competitiveness.
Tommy Hudspeth
Tommy Hudspeth served as the head football coach of the BYU Cougars, guiding them to their first conference championship in 1965 with a record of 6–4. This marked the beginning of a successful era for the program.
Mark Pope
As of 2019, Mark Pope was the head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team. During his tenure, the team experienced success, advancing to the NCAA Tournament and achieving notable victories.
Kevin Young
Kevin Young, the associate head coach of the Phoenix Suns, was hired as the new head coach of the BYU Cougars men's basketball team in 2024. Young has made significant recruiting strides, signing some of the highest-rated recruits in BYU history, including Egor Demin, a five-star recruit who became the highest-rated recruit in program history at the time.
These coaches have all played a significant role in shaping the success and legacy of the BYU Cougars across various sports, with their impact extending beyond just wins and losses.
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BYU Cougars' notable players
The BYU Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. The Cougars compete in the Big 12 Conference for all sports except men's volleyball, which is part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. BYU's basketball program has a rich history, with 1,786 wins, ranking 12th among all Division I programs.
Some notable BYU Cougars basketball players include:
River Jeffcoat
A star point guard, River Jeffcoat led the Cougars to their first-ever conference championship in 1922 as part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. This was the first of many conference titles for BYU, with 26 by 2006 and 27 overall as of 2011.
Travis Hansen and Rafael Araujo
During Steve Cleveland's tenure as head coach, BYU enjoyed success with multiple conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. Two notable players from this era were Travis Hansen and Rafael Araujo, who were drafted by NBA teams—the Atlanta Hawks and the Toronto Raptors, respectively.
Jimmer Fredette and DeMarcus Harrison
Recruited by Dave Rose, Jimmer Fredette joined BYU in 2007 and helped the team achieve six straight 20-win seasons. DeMarcus Harrison, who joined in 2011, was also part of these successful campaigns.
Egor Demin, Kanon Catchings, Brody Kozlowski, and Elijah Crawford
Under the leadership of head coach Kevin Young, these four recruits were among the highest-rated in BYU history, according to 247Sports. Egor Demin, in particular, stood out as the program's first-ever five-star recruit.
AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsa, ESPN's top recruit in the 2025 class, committed to BYU in 2024. He is anticipated to be a high NBA draft pick in the future and is considered the highest-rated recruit in BYU's history.
The BYU Cougars have a proud basketball tradition, with numerous notable players contributing to their success over the years. The program has produced NBA draft picks and consistently performed well in conference and NCAA tournaments.
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Frequently asked questions
The BYU men's basketball team is part of the Big 12 Conference.
BYU officially joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2023.
BYU was a member of the West Coast Conference from 2011 to 2022. Before that, they were part of the Mountain West Conference from 1999 to 2011. The Cougars have also competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Mountain States Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference.
BYU has a rich history in basketball, with 26 conference championships as of 2006. Their first conference championship was in 1922 as a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
