Who is Craig Young?

Craig Young

Craig Young is a nationally recognized executive coach, mental health and leadership strategist, bestselling author and keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of emotional wellness, family dynamics, leadership development and elite athletic performance. With more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, he has helped athletes, parents, coaches, executives, educators and organizations develop the emotional intelligence, resilience and leadership skills needed to navigate adversity and perform effectively under pressure.

As CEO of Young Consulting Group, LLC and The Young Standard, LLC, Craig provides executive coaching, leadership development, strategic consulting and mental performance education. He also serves as President of the Young 9 Foundation, where he helps advance access to mental health education, resources and developmental support for underrepresented youth and young athletes. Across each of these platforms, Craig equips individuals, families, teams and organizations with practical tools to strengthen relationships, build resilient cultures, manage pressure and achieve sustainable success.

He is also the bestselling author of Growing Up Young: One Familyˇs Faith Journey to the NFL, a practical and faith-centered guide for families navigating youth and competitive sports. Through his writing and speaking engagements, Craig challenges parents, coaches, educators and leaders to prioritize character, emotional wellness, healthy family systems and long-term development over short-term achievement. His work is further shaped by his experience as the father of Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, giving him a rare firsthand understanding of the pressures families face while supporting an athlete from childhood through the highest levels of competition.€

A highly sought after keynote speaker, panelist and educator, Craig regularly addresses audiences at conferences, schools, universities, churches, corporations, athletic organizations and community events. His areas of expertise include mental health and emotional wellness, leadership development, family dynamics, parenting high performing athletes, sports psychology, mental performance, team culture, organizational health and navigating NIL and the evolving youth sports landscape. His insights and family journey have been featured by ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Athletic, The Ringer, Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Times, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Craig Young earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UCLA and a Master of Arts in Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College. His career includes extensive experience in community mental health, school based counseling, nonprofit leadership, program supervision, private practice and youth sports coaching. Although Craig no longer practices clinically, his decades of therapeutic experience continue to inform his work as a coach, consultant, speaker, educator and leadership strategist.