University of Connecticut Athletics
Kimani Young Helps Soldiers To Sidelines
9/29/2023 12:48:00 AM | Men's Basketball
When Leigh Klein became the Director of Basketball for Soldiers to Sidelines, he didn't take the position lightly. The Soldiers to Sidelines organization is dedicated to helping military veterans, who are transitioning back to civilian life and searching for their place in it, to perhaps pursue a career in coaching.
As he started to put together a list of speakers who he thought would connect with the vets, he thought of his longtime friend, UConn Associate Head Coach Kimani Young.
"Without hesitation, Kimani committed to do the offensive skill segment of our seminar," Klein said. "I've known Kimani for a long time – since his days at New Heights (a New York City sports-based youth development organization) and when he worked at Five Star camps. Any time we ask, his answer is always 'Yes.' Even if he's extremely busy, he says, 'We'll figure it out.' That's how he approaches it. And he's been just fantastic with the vets."
In much the same way he connects with the UConn players, Young connects with the veterans.
"It was really awesome to be a part of, speaking to these retired military men and women and some still in the military," Young said. "We had about 200 people on the zoom and they can repost it and reuse it whenever they need to. Just sharing my experience, sharing my journey in coaching to where I am now. It was a lot of fun."
Klein is not surprised at how well the vets respond to Young's message.
"We have many different coaches speak and we're very appreciative of them," Klein said. "But I don't know if there's a better coach than Kimani, who talks at the level of where these soldier coaches are. What I mean is, he talks to them as a full colleague and at their level and not just talking at them, but really trying to connect and empower them and build them up – like, 'Look, I did this, you can do this. Yes, I played, but I still had to work my way up. I was able to do it and you can do it.' "
The UConn coach uses his own history to encourage the vets.
"We had one of our soldier coaches from New York City and he talked about transitioning out and how he's trying to figure it out and he talked about coaching," Klein explained. "Kimani brought up his PAL (Police Athletic League) experience, and Kimani's point, which really resonated well with our audience, was when he was coaching the PAL, that to him was like coaching the Knicks, and being so happy doing that. Obviously, very few are going to be able to coach at upper levels and coach at UConn, but they can be involved in their own community and make a positive impact. Kimani gives them a gage, like, just start coaching, maybe in the PAL. Get involved and start doing it and be the best you can be at it and who knows? Who knows what can happen?"
Soldiers To Sidelines has placed nearly 1,400 veterans in coaching positions.
"There were people from all over the country," Young said. "People even reached out afterward – coaches from Texas, California, New York."
"It's been really successful," Klein added. "The renewed sense of purpose, which has been a void for our military members, and to be able to substitute this ultimate commitment they gave to our country with coaching and really being involved with young people and the communities has been such a successful formula."
