Collin Chandler's basketball journey has taken a full-circle turn, landing him back where it all began. After initially committing to BYU out of high school, the talented guard followed former coach Mark Pope to Kentucky, only to transfer back to Provo this offseason to play for new Cougars head coach Kevin Young. In his first public comments since the move, Chandler opened up about the decision on BYUtv's "BYU Sports Nation," offering a glimpse into the personal and spiritual process behind his return.
The timing of his initial coaching change was unique, occurring while Chandler was serving a mission. "Being out on my mission... the spirit is so important in those decisions for me," he shared, noting the environment helped him decide to follow Pope to Kentucky. That experience, however, proved invaluable. He described returning from his mission and jumping into high-major basketball at Kentucky like "learning how to play basketball again," but credits the time away with immense personal and athletic growth, including getting married.
Ultimately, the pull of home and a clear vision for his development brought him back. Chandler emphasized that the decision to return to Utah was a joint one with his wife, Hannah, feeling it was "what we need." A major factor was the opportunity to play for Kevin Young for two full seasons. "I know playing one year for a coach and trying to learn everything, that aspect is hard," Chandler said, highlighting the stability and extended learning period as key advantages.
He's also excited by the evolution he's witnessed in BYU's program and in Young's coaching approach, particularly in roster construction. Chandler arrives optimistic about the new-look Cougars, stating, "I think we have a lot of exciting guys, and that’s going to be fun." Most importantly, he felt a warm welcome back from the BYU community, appreciating that the fans respected his initial decision to leave and have now welcomed him back with "arms wide open." For Chandler, this next chapter is about building on his journey, developing under Young, and winning games in Provo.