Football head coach Mike Taylor resigns after 2-9 2008
Posted by The Skyliner on January 28th, 2009Jon Harris
Staff Writer
North Greenville University’s head football coach of nine years, Mike Taylor, has resigned from his position, as announced to the team by athletic director Jan McDonald on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
“Coach Taylor has had a good tenure at North Greenville as our football coach and we would like to thank him for his dedicated service to our student-athletes,” McDonald said on to www.ngcrusaders.com. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“In the field of sports, in a general sense, if you don’t produce then you lose your job,” said offensive linemen Patrick Knorr, senior interdisciplinary studies. “I was a bit surprised by the fact that he resigned because at the end of the season he assured the team that he would be back… Obviously though, the school and Coach Taylor wanted to go in two different directions”
The team played the toughest schedule in school history and ended the 2008 season 2-9. The Crusaders had wins against Edward Waters College and Kentucky Wesleyan College. The 2007 season ended with a 5-6 record.
“I honestly feel that this program can reach potential that this school has only seen glimpses of,” running back Matt Moore, senior business administration, said. “We have lost a great person for the school but there is good in all bad.”
Taylor started the football program at North Greenville in 1988, left in 1992 to coach at Newberry College, and returned in 2004. In his years as head coach, Taylor had a 55-35 record at NGU. He was inducted into the NGU Hall of Fame in 2001.
“He was a tough, hard-nose, old-school coach,” Knorr said. “One thing remains true for my career… He never abandoned us even when the times were tough and would fight for our guys if they were to get into a tough situation.”
Taylor helped move the team into a brand new stadium in 2005 and led the Crusaders to their most successful season of school history in 2006. The team led in NCAA Division II offense, with a 10-2 record and a championship over Malone College in the Victory Bowl. Taylor was named 2006 SC Coach of the Year by The State newspaper.
“Honestly, I was okay with [the resignation],” said defensive linemen Mark Smith, freshman secondary education. “The assistant coaches are doing a great job of leading the team. Overall I think we have just as much potential, probably even more than last season.”
According to Knorr, the athletic department is currently interviewing coaches from various levels of experience.
“This is also an exciting time for the NGU football program,” said Knorr. “Our program has a very talented group of underclassman; so it will be interesting how the new head coach will use the talent in his scheme.”
For more information on Coach Taylor or the search for a new football coach, contact McDonald or visit ngcrusaders.com.