BREAKING: Steve Young Makes Groundbreaking Donation to BYU Training Facilities — Legend Returns to Empower Next Generation of Cougars
By Jenna Hall | June 24, 2025 | Provo, Utah
In a move that has electrified Cougar Nation and reaffirmed the powerful bond between BYU’s past and future, legendary quarterback Steve Young has made a record-breaking $25 million donation to dramatically upgrade and expand BYU’s athletic training facilities. The donation, announced this morning at a packed press conference in LaVell Edwards Stadium, marks the largest individual contribution in the history of BYU Athletics.
Young, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl MVP, and proud BYU alumnus, returned to campus to personally unveil the ambitious vision his gift will help make reality: a state-of-the-art Steve Young Performance & Innovation Complex that will set a new national standard in collegiate athletic development.
> “This isn’t just about lifting weights or running sprints,” Young said during his emotional remarks. “It’s about investing in the mind, body, and spirit of every student-athlete who walks through these doors. BYU shaped me, and now it’s time to give back in a way that helps shape generations to come.”
A Game-Changing Facility
The new complex, set to break ground in early 2026, will feature:
Advanced strength and conditioning zones
Integrated sports science labs
Cutting-edge recovery and rehabilitation suites
Film and strategy innovation rooms
Leadership development centers
A Legacy Hall, honoring past Cougar greats while inspiring future ones.
Athletic Director Tom Holmoe called the gift “transformational” and praised Young’s leadership and lifelong commitment to BYU’s mission.
> “Steve Young isn’t just a football icon—he’s a mentor, a visionary, and the embodiment of everything this university stands for,” Holmoe said. “His generosity will forever change how we prepare our athletes to compete and to lead.”
Empowering the Future
BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake echoed that sentiment, adding that the facility will become a central hub for building champions on and off the field.
> “We talk about culture, character, and commitment—and this new complex will amplify all three,” Sitake said. “This is a legacy that reaches far beyond football.”
Young, who graduated from BYU in 1984 before his legendary NFL career with the 49ers, has long remained close to the university. His gift is also part of a broader campaign to elevate BYU’s competitiveness as a Big 12 powerhouse and national contender in multiple sports.
Cougar Nation Reacts
The reaction across Provo and the college football world has been overwhelming. Social media lit up with gratitude, with fans, players, and alumni calling the donation “the ultimate homecoming” and a “program-shifting moment.”
Freshman quarterback Tyson Katoa said, “To know that someone like Steve Young believes in us—enough to invest in us—means everything.”
The Legacy Lives On
With construction set to begin in early 2026 and completion expected by summer 2027, the Steve Young Performance & Innovation Complex promises to become the crown jewel of BYU Athletics.
And as Young concluded his remarks, his message was simple, powerful, and pure Cougar pride:
> “This is more than a building. It’s belief in a future that’s brighter than ever.”
