Ralph Hayward Young (December 17, 1889 – January 23, 1962) was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, college athletics administrator, and state legislator.

He was the head football coach at DePauw University (1915), Kalamazoo College (1916–1917, 1919–1922), and Michigan Agricultural College/Michigan State College, now Michigan State University, (1923–1927) During his career as a head coach, he compiled record of 56–41–3, including an 18–22–1 mark at Michigan Agricultural/State.

In addition, he served as Michigan State's first athletic director, from 1923 until 1954.

Young served three terms in the Michigan Legislature, representing the East Lansing district.

He died on January 23, 1962, at his home in East Lansing, Michigan.