SENATOBIA – Northwest Mississippi Community College head softball coach Chelsea Bramlett has officially announced the hiring of Dustin Young as the program's assistant coach, effective immediately.

"I'm thrilled to be here," Young said. "I am a Northwest alumnus and when I played baseball here, I wanted our program to be good. Now that I am coaching here, I want our program to be the best that it can be. Coach Bramlett brings so much to the table and I am glad that I can be a part of it. I can't wait to coach these girls and make them better student-athletes."

Young is a familiar name at Northwest and around Tate County. A 2003 graduate of Independence High School, Young played baseball at Northwest under coaches Donny Castle and Mark Carson from 2005-06, batting .299 with 13 doubles, four home runs and 24 RBIs as a sophomore in his two seasons in a Ranger uniform. He also tallied a .940 fielding percentage with 78 putouts.

From Northwest, Young went on to continue his career at the next level with the now-defunct Crichton College, coached by another former Ranger in Brandon Rowan. Young played for the Comets from 2007-08.

Since earning his degree from Crichton, Young has remained close to both baseball and softball, coaching youth teams and also assisting with the Senatobia High School softball program, coached by his wife Tammy. Since 2010, the Young's have helped Senatobia to a combined record of 150-90-1 with numerous playoff appearances while helping produce numerous college athletes, including former Rangers Lindsey Brewer, Amanda Bies, Lindsey Shaw, Whitney King, Leeah Henson, Annah Catherine Storey and current Ranger Mary Britton Faulkner. 

"Having Coach Young on board is exciting," Bramlett said. "With his prior playing experience at Northwest, he will be a great addition to our program and a great help to our middle infield and wherever else needed."

Young and his wife Tammy reside in Senatobia and have two children, Camden (6) and Brinleigh (4).