Bryan B. Young

Bryan B. Young was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 26, 1969 and adopted by Barry and Uta-Ilka (Vaha) Young. He was taken too soon at the age of 47 on February 7, 2017.
After graduating from Greenhills High School in Ohio, Bryan achieved his Bachelor of Science in May of 1994 at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in Sports Science with Sports Administration and minoring in Social Studies. He obtained his Masters of Education Administration in May of 2003 from Southern Nazarene University, and in May of 2012 Bryan attained his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer when he earned his Juris Doctorate degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. In 2014 he retired from education to join the law firm of Ward & Glass, LLP, where he worked until his untimely passing.
Bryan was a man of many talents; he was as athletic as he was intelligent. In high school Bryan played soccer and baseball, ran cross country and track, and wrestled. He wrestled in college at the University of Oklahoma and was a professional jockey from 1990-96. In fact, he was the lead apprentice jockey at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas and at Remington Park in Oklahoma City from 1994-96. In 2012 he was inducted into the Greenhills High School Hall of Fame for his achievements.
Bryan was known to many and loved by all. He spent 17 years as an educator with Norman Public Schools. During his tenure in the district he served as a teacher, a mentor, and a coach. He started his coaching career at Norman High School, serving as the assistant coach for soccer and wrestling. He moved to Norman North High School when they opened in August of 1997. There Bryan taught history, was the assistant coach for the wrestling team, and was the head coach for the cross country and soccer teams, until he took over as the president of the Professional Educators of Norman in June of 2003. During his time as PEN president he continued to serve as the head soccer coach at Norman North High School. In July of 2006 Bryan returned to Norman North High School full-time as the Assistant Principal, and in July of 2009 he took over as the Principal of Norman North High School, where he remained until his retirement.
Bryan was extremely proud of his accomplishments while coaching and mentoring his students through Norman North High School and the Norman Youth Soccer Association. Some of his most notable while at Norman North High School were: his record of 131-10-1 from 1998-2006; his two state championships in 2000 and 2003; and his four academic state championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Through the Norman Youth Soccer Association he was particularly proud of: Fury 83 state championships in 2000, 2001, and 2002; Fury 83 regional semifinals in 2001 and 2002; and reaching regionals with the Celtic ’91 and ’93 teams in 2008. Above all Bryan was most proud of the relationships that he built with all of his students and the successes they enjoyed in school and in life as they graduated and became adults. Seeing the men and women that his students would become was his greatest reward.
Bryan was preceded in death by: parents; grandmother Lina Oster; grandparents Bob and Edna Young; and mother- and father-in-law Illene and Loren Cockriel. He leaves behind: wife, Lisa (Cockriel) Young; son Braxton; sister Christina (Young) Gerwinat and her children Noah and Katia; grandfather Karl Oster; aunt DeAnn Young; uncle John Young; cousins Jennifer Jones, Laura Providenti, and Craig Young; and his extended family in Germany, Elmira, New York, and the Greenhills, Ohio area.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations to the Norman Public School Foundation Teacher Grant program (131 S. Flood Ave, Norman / 405.366.5947 / npsfok.com). In addition, a memorial account has been established at Republic Bank & Trust. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the “Bryan Young Memorial Fund” and dropped off at any Republic Banking Center or mailed to P.O. Box 5369, Norman, OK 73070.