Joe Taylor (American football coach)
Encyclopedia
Joe Taylor is an American football
coach. He has been the head football coach at Florida A&M University
since 2008. Before that, he was the head football coach at Hampton University
from 1992 to 2007 where he compiled a 136–49–1 record (.734) and won four black college football national championship
s (1995, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and eight conference titles. He was also the head coach at Virginia Union University
from 1984 to 1991 where he won one conference title on his way to an overall record of 60–19–3 (.750).
He graduated from Western Illinois University
in 1972 and began his coaching career at Howard D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. He served as a physical education teacher, head wrestling coach, and assistant football and baseball coach in the District of Columbia schools.
In 1978, Taylor was hired as the offensive line coach at Eastern Illinois University
in Charleston, Illinois
. He helped lead Eastern Illinois to the 1978 NCAA Division II National Football Championship
.
In 1980, Taylor was hired as the offensive coordinator at Virginia Union University
, a historically black university
(HBCU) located in Richmond, Virginia
. After two years at Virginia Union, Taylor became the defensive coordinator at Howard University
, an HBCU in Washington, D.C.
He was named the head football coach at Howard in 1983. He had a 1–9 record in his only season as head coach at Howard.
championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. His teams also made the Division II playoffs in 1990 and 1991. In eight years as the head coach at Virginia Union, Taylor compiled a record of 60 wins, 19 losses, and 3 ties for a .750 winning percentage.
, an HBCU located in Hampton, Virginia
. In his first three years at Hampton, the school played in NCAA Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(CIAA). In 1993, Taylor's team was undefeated in the regular season, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the national playoffs, and became the first CIAA team in history to win 12 games in a season. In 1994, Hampton broke the CIAA total offense record with 5,575 yards and became the first CIAA team to average more than 500 yards of total offense per game. By the end of the 1994 season, Hampton had won 23 straight games against CIAA opponents. In recognition of his achievement, Taylor selected as College Coach of the Year in Virginia for 1994 by the Portsmouth Sports Club.
In 1995, Hampton moved up to NCAA Division I-AA (now known as Division I FCS) play and joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
(MEAC) in 1996. Taylor continued to win at the Division I-AA level and became "the most successful football coach in Hampton history." Taylor's Hampton teams won four Black College Championship
s (1995, 2004, 2005 and 2006), eight conference titles (three in the CIAA and five in the MEAC), the 1999 Heritage Bowl
championship, and seven trips to the NCAA playoffs. He was also named MEAC Coach of the Year for three straight years from 2004 to 2006.
The seniors on Taylor's 2006 team won three consecutive Black College Championships. Taylor called the 2006 squad the best in Hampton history. He said, "Start by looking at what they've accomplished as a group. The seniors are 22–2 in the conference the past three seasons. They are 31–4 overall during that time and 38–8 for the four years. Because of their record, they went onto the field with a bull's-eye on our back every game this year. The kids survived that onslaught and got better, while dealing with a higher number of injuries than ever before."
In 2004, a New Jersey newspaper published a feature story on Taylor. Hampton athletic director Dennis Thomas asserted that Taylor had earned his chance to coach a major Division I-A program, but noted that he wouldn't be able to name a black coach out of a black university getting a chance to be a big-time college football coach, "It's never happened. What's that telling you?" Taylor insisted that the lack of offers did not eat at him or leave him bitter. He noted:
In 16 years as the head coach at Hampton, he compiled a record of 136 wins, 49 losses and one tie for a .734 winning percentage. Taylor's tenure produced a good number of great Hampton Pirate players who went on to the National Football League
and Canadian Football League
. The list include: Kendall Langford
, Justin Durant
, Nevin McCaskill
, Alonzo Coleman
, Zuriel Smith
, Jerome Mathis
, Marquay McDaniel
, Onrea Jones
, Travarous Bain
, Darian Barnes
, Cordell Taylor
and Isaac Hilton
. These players were All-MEAC selections, as well as Black College Football All-Americans, and Div 1-AA All-Americans during their college careers.
(FAMU), an HBCU in Tallahassee, Florida
. Taylor's contract with FAMU was reported to be for five years with a base salary of $225,000 and a $12,000 housing allowance. FAMU plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship. When Taylor took over, the FAMU football team was coming off a 3–8 season, had gone 29–35 since 2001, and was "reeling after the loss of 14 scholarships in four years." In his first two seasons at FAMU, Taylor turned the program into a winner, compiling records of 9–3 in 2008 and 8–3 in 2009. In November 2009, FAMU athletic director Bill Hayes praised Taylor's contributions, "He has recruited better, and he has inspired and organized the program in such a way that he has been able to maximize the talent here. Joe had such a solid plan and approach to building winners until the players just bought in. They bought into what he was trying to do, and it didn't take him long."
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He has been the head football coach at Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
since 2008. Before that, he was the head football coach at Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
from 1992 to 2007 where he compiled a 136–49–1 record (.734) and won four black college football national championship
Black college football national championship
The black college football national championship is a mythical national championship won by the best black college football team in the United States of America. There has been some criticism of this title on the grounds that the schools in the various polls compete in different levels of...
s (1995, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and eight conference titles. He was also the head coach at Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
from 1984 to 1991 where he won one conference title on his way to an overall record of 60–19–3 (.750).
Early years
Taylor is a native of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He graduated from Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
in 1972 and began his coaching career at Howard D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. He served as a physical education teacher, head wrestling coach, and assistant football and baseball coach in the District of Columbia schools.
In 1978, Taylor was hired as the offensive line coach at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois Panthers
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I in...
in Charleston, Illinois
Charleston, Illinois
Charleston is a city in and the county seat of Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,838 as of the 2010 census. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor Mattoon, Illinois...
. He helped lead Eastern Illinois to the 1978 NCAA Division II National Football Championship
NCAA Division II national football championship
The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
.
In 1980, Taylor was hired as the offensive coordinator at Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
, a historically black university
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
(HBCU) located in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. After two years at Virginia Union, Taylor became the defensive coordinator at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, an HBCU in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He was named the head football coach at Howard in 1983. He had a 1–9 record in his only season as head coach at Howard.
Virginia Union
In 1984, Taylor was hired by Virginia Union as its head football coach. In 1986, Taylor led Virginia Union to an undefeated regular season, a Central Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationCentral Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. His teams also made the Division II playoffs in 1990 and 1991. In eight years as the head coach at Virginia Union, Taylor compiled a record of 60 wins, 19 losses, and 3 ties for a .750 winning percentage.
Hampton University
From 1992 to 2007, Taylor was the head football coach at Hampton UniversityHampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
, an HBCU located in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
. In his first three years at Hampton, the school played in NCAA Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
(CIAA). In 1993, Taylor's team was undefeated in the regular season, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the national playoffs, and became the first CIAA team in history to win 12 games in a season. In 1994, Hampton broke the CIAA total offense record with 5,575 yards and became the first CIAA team to average more than 500 yards of total offense per game. By the end of the 1994 season, Hampton had won 23 straight games against CIAA opponents. In recognition of his achievement, Taylor selected as College Coach of the Year in Virginia for 1994 by the Portsmouth Sports Club.
In 1995, Hampton moved up to NCAA Division I-AA (now known as Division I FCS) play and joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference is a collegiate athletic conference of historically black colleges and universities in the Southeastern United States...
(MEAC) in 1996. Taylor continued to win at the Division I-AA level and became "the most successful football coach in Hampton history." Taylor's Hampton teams won four Black College Championship
Black college football national championship
The black college football national championship is a mythical national championship won by the best black college football team in the United States of America. There has been some criticism of this title on the grounds that the schools in the various polls compete in different levels of...
s (1995, 2004, 2005 and 2006), eight conference titles (three in the CIAA and five in the MEAC), the 1999 Heritage Bowl
Heritage Bowl
The Heritage Bowl is a defunct NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision bowl game pitting a team from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference against a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference...
championship, and seven trips to the NCAA playoffs. He was also named MEAC Coach of the Year for three straight years from 2004 to 2006.
The seniors on Taylor's 2006 team won three consecutive Black College Championships. Taylor called the 2006 squad the best in Hampton history. He said, "Start by looking at what they've accomplished as a group. The seniors are 22–2 in the conference the past three seasons. They are 31–4 overall during that time and 38–8 for the four years. Because of their record, they went onto the field with a bull's-eye on our back every game this year. The kids survived that onslaught and got better, while dealing with a higher number of injuries than ever before."
In 2004, a New Jersey newspaper published a feature story on Taylor. Hampton athletic director Dennis Thomas asserted that Taylor had earned his chance to coach a major Division I-A program, but noted that he wouldn't be able to name a black coach out of a black university getting a chance to be a big-time college football coach, "It's never happened. What's that telling you?" Taylor insisted that the lack of offers did not eat at him or leave him bitter. He noted:
"I've always seen coaching more about being a ministry than about X's and O's. I want to make a difference, and I think I do that where I'm coaching now. You won't hear me bellyache. You can do anything in this world if you believe in it and map it out. If one man can do it, that means another man can do it too. Do what Sylvester CroomSylvester CroomSylvester Croom, Jr. is the former football head coach at Mississippi State University and current running backs coach of the St. Louis Rams. He was the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference...
has done. Do what Tyrone WillinghamTyrone WillinghamLionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
has done. There's a road map out there, I tell the young coaches now. Follow what they did."
In 16 years as the head coach at Hampton, he compiled a record of 136 wins, 49 losses and one tie for a .734 winning percentage. Taylor's tenure produced a good number of great Hampton Pirate players who went on to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. The list include: Kendall Langford
Kendall Langford
Kendall Arkel Langford is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hampton.-Early years:Langford attended and played high school football at...
, Justin Durant
Justin Durant
Justin Durant is an American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, Nevin McCaskill
Nevin McCaskill
Nevin McCaskill is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, Alonzo Coleman
Alonzo Coleman
Alonzo Coleman is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Hampton....
, Zuriel Smith
Zuriel Smith
Zuriel Smith is a retired National Fooltball League player. Smith formerly played for the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
, Jerome Mathis
Jerome Mathis
Jerome Alvon Mathis is a professional American and Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football for Hampton.Mathis has also been a member of the Washington...
, Marquay McDaniel
Marquay McDaniel
Marquay McDaniel is a professional American and Canadian football wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League....
, Onrea Jones
Onrea Jones
Onrea Jones is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, Travarous Bain
Travarous Bain
Travarous Donnell Bain is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, Darian Barnes
Darian Barnes
Darian Durrell Barnes is an American football fullback who is currently a member of the Florida Tuskers. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
, Cordell Taylor
Cordell Taylor
Cordell Jerome Taylor is a former American football player. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Taylor attended Hampton University. During his short NFL career he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Chicago Bears, though he never actually played for Chicago....
and Isaac Hilton
Isaac Hilton
Isaac Hilton is an American football defensive lineman. He was drafted out of Hampton University by the New York Giants, but was cut before the beginning of the season. He then played briefly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers, and later played for the Arena Football League...
. These players were All-MEAC selections, as well as Black College Football All-Americans, and Div 1-AA All-Americans during their college careers.
Florida A&M
In December 2007, Taylor announced that he would leave Hampton to coach at Florida A&M UniversityFlorida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
(FAMU), an HBCU in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. Taylor's contract with FAMU was reported to be for five years with a base salary of $225,000 and a $12,000 housing allowance. FAMU plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship. When Taylor took over, the FAMU football team was coming off a 3–8 season, had gone 29–35 since 2001, and was "reeling after the loss of 14 scholarships in four years." In his first two seasons at FAMU, Taylor turned the program into a winner, compiling records of 9–3 in 2008 and 8–3 in 2009. In November 2009, FAMU athletic director Bill Hayes praised Taylor's contributions, "He has recruited better, and he has inspired and organized the program in such a way that he has been able to maximize the talent here. Joe had such a solid plan and approach to building winners until the players just bought in. They bought into what he was trying to do, and it didn't take him long."