Loyola University Chicago head men’s basketball coach Drew Valentine completed his coaching staff, tabbing Brendyn Taylor as an assistant for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season. Taylor brings with him four years of collegiate coaching experience.
“Excited to add BT to our high energy coaching staff. He’s been someone that I’ve gotten to know over the years and is incredibly respected throughout the profession for the way he works,” said Valentine. “He’s got valuable playing experience that will serve our players with their development in addition to having strong recruiting relationships across the country. Can’t wait to get to work with him!”
Taylor is fresh off a two-year stint at UCLA. He joined the Bruins in August of 2023 and helped the team post an overall record of 39-28. In the 2024-25 season, Taylor helped UCLA finish fourth in the Big Ten and secure the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament en route to a first-round win over Utah State.
During his two seasons, Taylor helped UCLA lead its conference in scoring defense. He also helped UCLA earn a third team Big Ten selection in Tyler Bilodeau during the 2024-25 season and a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award in Adem Bona during the 2023-24 season. Bona went on to be a second-round pick in the NBA draft that year.
Prior to UCLA, Taylor served as a graduate assistant at St. John’s where he earned his graduate degree in sport management.
“I’m excited and humbled to join the staff at Loyola Chicago,” said Taylor. “This program’s legacy and values are something I deeply respect, and I’m thankful to Coach Valentine for the opportunity to grow under his leadership. I can’t wait to get started and be a part of this special community.”
Taylor’s collegiate playing career tipped off at USC (2013-15) where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology. He played the 2015-16 season at Santa Clara as a graduate transfer and used his final year of eligibility at Bushnell College in Oregon in 2016-17. He averaged 12.6 points per game, helping Bushnell win the 2017 Cascade Collegiate Conference title and a trip to the NAIA Sweet 16.
Following Bushnell, Taylor played professional basketball in Germany of the Baunach Young Pikes before returning to California to coach at Providence High School in Burbank. Through three seasons, Providence went 75-25.
Basketball runs in the family as Taylor’s father, Brian, played at Princeton and was a second-round NBA Draft pick in 1972 by the Seattle SuperSonics. He went on to be named the ABA Rookie of the Year in ’73 with the New Jersey Nets and spent 10 seasons in the ABA and NVA. Taylor’s older brother, Bryce, played four seasons at Oregon before embarking on a 10-year professional career in Europe.
Loyola Chicago adds Taylor to Basketball Coaching Staff
