Roane State alumnus Jason Taylor named head women’s basketball coach

Jason Taylor, the all-time winningest coach in Anderson University men’s basketball history and a Roane State Community College alumnus, has been named Roane State’s new head women’s basketball coach, a press release said.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity and feel very blessed to be back at Roane State,” Taylor said. “Roane State means a lot to me and the mentorship and friendship of Coach Randy Nesbit has been instrumental in my life.”

A Clarkrange native, Taylor played for Nesbit at Roane State from 1997-1999 before he transferred to NCAA Division I Jacksonville State University. He served as Roane State assistant coach from 2001-2003 and was an assistant at Anderson University in South Carolina from 2003-2006.

When he became Anderson University’s head coach in 2006, the team had finished last in the South Atlantic Conference. During Taylor’s nine-year tenure, Anderson University had six straight winning seasons, posted four 20-win seasons, reached four NCAA Division II Tournaments, averaged more than 17 wins per season, and posted an overall record of 157-113, the press release said.

The Trojans reached the Elite Eight in 2011, becoming only the second South Atlantic Conference school to reach an NCAA Division II quarterfinal. Anderson University’s 2011-12 team posted a 26-6 record, the most wins in school history, and finished 17-1 in the conference, the press release said.

Taylor was named National Association of Basketball Coaches Southeast Region Coach of the Year and South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2012.

Taylor also established several landmarks for Anderson University such as: first 20-win season (2009-10), first NCAA Tournament bid (2009-10), first appearance in Top 25 (2009-10), and highest ranking in school history (No. 14 in 2011-12).

Taylor left Anderson University in 2015 to become an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Tennessee Tech University, the press release said.

“We want to compete hard, compete smart, and compete together,” Taylor said. “We will have a style of play our fans can enjoy.”

Taylor succeeds Monica Boles, also a Clarkrange native, who stepped down at the end of the 2018-19 season to return to teaching full-time.

“We greatly appreciate all Monica did for our program,” Roane State athletic director Randy Nesbit said. “Like Monica, Jason has the leadership, drive, and determination to take Roane State women’s basketball to new heights. We are thrilled to welcome him to Roane State.”

Taylor has encouraged student-athletes to participate in service such as mentoring programs, basketball clinics, and community improvement projects. Of his 31 players at Anderson University, 30 graduated with their degree.

“I want to do for the young women I coach here what Roane State and Coach Nesbit did for me,” Taylor said. “I want them to learn how to be good students and future leaders off the court. I want them to utilize Roane State and myself to help them realize their dreams at the four-year level and beyond. I also want them to learn the importance of serving others and being a part of something bigger than themselves.”

Taylor earned an associate of science degree from Roane State in 1999 and has a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Jacksonville State. He is the son of Teddy and Carolyn Taylor, brother to Richard Taylor, and uncle to Lily Taylor.

For more information about Roane State athletics, visit roanestate.edu/athletics.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

This press release was submitted by Owen Driskill.

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