Men's Basketball
Taylor, Billy
Billy Taylor
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- wpt2@lehigh.edu
Set to begin his second season at Lehigh, one can only wonder what head coach Billy Taylor will do for an encore. In his inaugural campaign, all Taylor did was become the all-time winningest first-year coach in Lehigh history and in the process lay the foundation for a perennial contender to reside in South Bethlehem. Coach Taylor and the Mountain Hawks surprised many by winning 16 games, including eight in the Patriot League. Their eleven game improvement over the year before was the second best in all of Division I. For his outstanding efforts, Taylor earned the 2002-03 Patriot League Coach of the Year honors in voting by the league coaches.
"All championship-caliber programs start with championship-caliber leadership and we believe we’ve found that in Billy Taylor," says Director of Athletics Joe Sterrett. "He has done an outstanding job in more ways than would be defined by his win-loss record. Billy is an excellent teacher of the game, he is committed to the academic ideals of this institution, he has hired an excellent staff, and he appears to be an excellent recruiter."
Taylor has brought with him the experience of turning programs around as both a player and coach. He exhibits a presence and true understanding of what it takes to be successful as both an athlete and student. Combine that with a work ethic and ability to teach the game of basketball and relate to his players in a mature and non-confrontational manner and it is easy to understand why Lehigh basketball fans, alumni, and, most importantly current players are as enthusiastic about basketball now as they ever have been in the program’s 102 year history.
Sterrett is happy with the fact that Taylor is at the helm and he explains, "Lehigh has always established ambitious goals both academically and athletically. When we were searching for a coach, our goal was to find someone who could identify with and embrace both the ambitions and challenges. Billy has the vision, passion and energy and team-oriented approach to make a real difference at Lehigh."
Taylor is no stranger to assisting in the turnaround of Division I basketball programs. As the top assistant for four years under former Lehigh head coach Fran McCaffrey at North Carolina- Greensboro for three seasons, Taylor immediately helped transform the existing team and subsequently helped recruit a top-40 class as rated by recruiting guru Bob Gibbons. The result was a program that recorded an improvement of eight wins, 17th-best in the nation.
The following year in 2000, UNCG finished with a 19-11 record and won the Southern Conference, Southern Conference Tournament and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. In his last year at UNCG, the team recorded the highest RPI ranking in school history (104) while finishing with a 20-10 record. The team tied for the Southern Conference’s Northern Division crown and participated in the National Invitation Tournament.
Senior co-captain Ra Tiah has seen the transformation of the program right before his own eyes and he likes what he sees. "Coach Taylor has made this program do a complete about face, in the way that he is more prepared, he is a tremendous teacher of the game and of life and also because he is so easy to talk to," Tiah said. "Coach relates to the team real well, because he is not only an outstanding coach but also a great friend."
Not only are Coach Taylor’s players impressed, but so is his former coach, who always knew Taylor possessed something special. "Billy Taylor is an outstanding person and basketball coach who is incredibly knowledgeable in every facet of the game," North Carolina-Greensboro head coach Fran McCaffrey says. "Billy has a tremendous passion for the game. For as long as I have known him whether it be as a player or coach he has had a level of maturity well beyond his years. Billy is extremely intelligent and is a teacher, who has always been able to establish excellent relationships with his players."
While at Notre Dame from 2001 to 2002, Taylor served as an assistant coach under John MacLeod where he coordinated opponent scouting reports, coordinated game preparations and coordinated preseason and postseason skill development sessions. He also had the chance to coach Troy Murphy, who won both the Big East Rookie and Player of the Year awards while in South Bend, and is currently a member of the Golden State Warriors.
"Billy is an outstanding individual," MacLeod said. "He was nothing short of a class act as a student at Notre Dame, and was extremely high-class as a player. He brings a wealth of basketball knowledge to Lehigh. Billy is a student of the game and an excellent communicator. He knows how to win and will be a good fit for Lehigh just as Lehigh is a good fit for him."
Taylor earned his bachelor’s in business administration and computer applications from Notre Dame in 1995. He also earned his CPA in 1998.
On the basketball court Taylor, who was recruited by Digger Phelps, was captain as a senior. Taylor earned varsity letters all four years and started 79 of 112 games for the Irish, scoring 577 points and pulling down 300 rebounds in his career. He started 59 of 60 games in his first two seasons before moving to the sixth man role eventually playing behind Pat Garrity, now with the Orlando Magic. Taylor scored a career high 23 points against Loyola in his freshman season and pulled down a career high eight rebounds as a sophomore vs. Duquesne.
Following graduation Taylor worked at Arthur Anderson until 1998 as a senior accountant and then senior consultant.
"I don’t think you could have picked a better person," said former Lehigh and current Notre Dame head women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw. "I think he’ll be a great recruiter and an excellent coach and I know the players will love him. He is without question a great fit for Lehigh."
Taylor graduated from West Aurora (Illinois) High School. He, his wife Avlon and one-year old daughter Gavielle reside in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania.
"All championship-caliber programs start with championship-caliber leadership and we believe we’ve found that in Billy Taylor," says Director of Athletics Joe Sterrett. "He has done an outstanding job in more ways than would be defined by his win-loss record. Billy is an excellent teacher of the game, he is committed to the academic ideals of this institution, he has hired an excellent staff, and he appears to be an excellent recruiter."
Taylor has brought with him the experience of turning programs around as both a player and coach. He exhibits a presence and true understanding of what it takes to be successful as both an athlete and student. Combine that with a work ethic and ability to teach the game of basketball and relate to his players in a mature and non-confrontational manner and it is easy to understand why Lehigh basketball fans, alumni, and, most importantly current players are as enthusiastic about basketball now as they ever have been in the program’s 102 year history.
Sterrett is happy with the fact that Taylor is at the helm and he explains, "Lehigh has always established ambitious goals both academically and athletically. When we were searching for a coach, our goal was to find someone who could identify with and embrace both the ambitions and challenges. Billy has the vision, passion and energy and team-oriented approach to make a real difference at Lehigh."
Taylor is no stranger to assisting in the turnaround of Division I basketball programs. As the top assistant for four years under former Lehigh head coach Fran McCaffrey at North Carolina- Greensboro for three seasons, Taylor immediately helped transform the existing team and subsequently helped recruit a top-40 class as rated by recruiting guru Bob Gibbons. The result was a program that recorded an improvement of eight wins, 17th-best in the nation.
The following year in 2000, UNCG finished with a 19-11 record and won the Southern Conference, Southern Conference Tournament and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. In his last year at UNCG, the team recorded the highest RPI ranking in school history (104) while finishing with a 20-10 record. The team tied for the Southern Conference’s Northern Division crown and participated in the National Invitation Tournament.
Senior co-captain Ra Tiah has seen the transformation of the program right before his own eyes and he likes what he sees. "Coach Taylor has made this program do a complete about face, in the way that he is more prepared, he is a tremendous teacher of the game and of life and also because he is so easy to talk to," Tiah said. "Coach relates to the team real well, because he is not only an outstanding coach but also a great friend."
Not only are Coach Taylor’s players impressed, but so is his former coach, who always knew Taylor possessed something special. "Billy Taylor is an outstanding person and basketball coach who is incredibly knowledgeable in every facet of the game," North Carolina-Greensboro head coach Fran McCaffrey says. "Billy has a tremendous passion for the game. For as long as I have known him whether it be as a player or coach he has had a level of maturity well beyond his years. Billy is extremely intelligent and is a teacher, who has always been able to establish excellent relationships with his players."
While at Notre Dame from 2001 to 2002, Taylor served as an assistant coach under John MacLeod where he coordinated opponent scouting reports, coordinated game preparations and coordinated preseason and postseason skill development sessions. He also had the chance to coach Troy Murphy, who won both the Big East Rookie and Player of the Year awards while in South Bend, and is currently a member of the Golden State Warriors.
"Billy is an outstanding individual," MacLeod said. "He was nothing short of a class act as a student at Notre Dame, and was extremely high-class as a player. He brings a wealth of basketball knowledge to Lehigh. Billy is a student of the game and an excellent communicator. He knows how to win and will be a good fit for Lehigh just as Lehigh is a good fit for him."
Taylor earned his bachelor’s in business administration and computer applications from Notre Dame in 1995. He also earned his CPA in 1998.
On the basketball court Taylor, who was recruited by Digger Phelps, was captain as a senior. Taylor earned varsity letters all four years and started 79 of 112 games for the Irish, scoring 577 points and pulling down 300 rebounds in his career. He started 59 of 60 games in his first two seasons before moving to the sixth man role eventually playing behind Pat Garrity, now with the Orlando Magic. Taylor scored a career high 23 points against Loyola in his freshman season and pulled down a career high eight rebounds as a sophomore vs. Duquesne.
Following graduation Taylor worked at Arthur Anderson until 1998 as a senior accountant and then senior consultant.
"I don’t think you could have picked a better person," said former Lehigh and current Notre Dame head women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw. "I think he’ll be a great recruiter and an excellent coach and I know the players will love him. He is without question a great fit for Lehigh."
Taylor graduated from West Aurora (Illinois) High School. He, his wife Avlon and one-year old daughter Gavielle reside in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania.
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