Texas A&M International University Director of Athletics Griz Zimmermann announced the hiring of Joel Taylor as the next Men’s Basketball Head Coach on Tuesday. Taylor previously served as Associate Head Coach under Bryan Weakley.
After three years with the Dustdevils Men’s Basketball program, Taylor was promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2017-18 season. In his time with TAMIU, Taylor helped the program garner a 54-49 Heartland Conference record and a 2016-17 Heartland Conference Regular Season Championship.
Zimmermann commented on Taylor’s hire, “Joel is embedded into the long tradition of success at TAMIU. His passion and dedication to the University, basketball program, student-athletes, and the community made this decision much easier for us. We are excited for the next chapter of Dustdevils Basketball.”
Taylor has played a key role in the development of All-Heartland Conference student-athletes, including Bunja Yaboe and Vadal Faniel.
Taylor commented on his hire, “My wife and I are very excited to begin this new chapter of our lives here in Laredo. I am truly honored for the opportunity to lead this proud program into the future. There have been some unbelievable coaches and players that have come before me and they have set an extremely high standard for success here at TAMIU. Dustdevil basketball has always been the standard for hard work, toughness, and winning championships in the Heartland Conference. Our goal moving forward will be to continue these winning traditions and push even further towards a national championship. Our goal is to make Texas A&M International University a household name throughout the country in Division II basketball. We will display high character players that will strive for excellence in the classroom, on the court, and in the community of Laredo.”
Prior to joining TAMIU, Taylor served as the assistant coach at Eastern Wyoming College for four years. Taylor helped lead the Lancers to a pair NJCAA Region IX Championships with two NJCAA Tournament appearances.
Taylor holds a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership. Taylor earned the degree while serving as the assistant coach at Grand Canyon University.
Taylor coached at his alma mater Missouri State University in the 2001-2002 season where he helped the team reach the programs first NCAA Division II Elite Eight. In his playing career with the Bearcats, Taylor led the team to the Sweet 16 as a senior captain as they started the season 13-0.
Taylor added, “I am very grateful for the support of our President Dr. Pablo Arenaz, our Athletic Director Griz Zimmermann, and a wonderful mentor and an even better friend in former Head Coach Bryan Weakley. I can never say thank you enough for all you have done for me and my wife. I want to thank all of my family, friends, coaches and teammates from years past to help mold me into the man and the coach I am today. But most of all, I want to thank my gorgeous and amazing wife Mihindra. I would not be here today without her love and support. Go Dustdevils!”
Taylor’s first job as Head Coach prior to today’s announcement was in the 2004-2005 season where he served as the Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coach at Colorado Northwestern Community College in Rangely, Colorado.
http://godustdevils.com/news/2018/5/1/joel-taylor-named-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
