For Immediate Release April 9, 2008

Taylor to take on dual role as soccer coach

After doubling the size of the men’s soccer roster at Illinois College over the past three seasons, Head Coach Shane Taylor will take on additional duties this fall as head coach of the women’s soccer team.

In announcing the dual appointment, Illinois College Athletic Director Gale Vaughn said Taylor’s enthusiasm for the sport, coupled with his successful recruiting efforts, made him the clear choice for the job.

“Shane has demonstrated good command of soccer coaching strategy and has a real talent for bringing student-athletes to our campus,” Vaughn remarked. “We are convinced that he can do for women’s soccer what he has done for men’s soccer since joining our program in 2005.

Taylor said his three previous seasons as head coach of the men’s soccer team has helped him develop a strong understanding for the caliber of student-athletes who can excel at Illinois College.

"I’m very excited by the opportunity to coach women’s soccer at the collegiate level and determined to raise the level of enthusiasm and competitive success among our players,” Taylor said of his new coaching duties. Recruiting is already under way for the 2008 fall season, and the two-sport coach said his top priority will be to make participation personally rewarding and enjoyable for every one associated with the program.

Under Taylor’s guidance the IC men’s soccer team added 12 new freshmen in 2007 and 13 more in 2006. There were 14 players on the roster when he inherited the program prior to the start of the 2005 season, and he completed the 2007 campaign with a 29-member roster. Taylor is 10-34-6 in three seasons as head coach of the IC men’s soccer team, including a mark of 5-10-3 in 2007.

Vaughn said a number of NCAA Division III colleges and universities have one coach for men’s and women’s soccer, and he anticipates Taylor will be accessible to student-athletes on a regular basis throughout the year.

The IC soccer coach earned the B.A. degree in organizational management at Ashford University and has compiled impressive credentials as a player and coach. His resume includes 16 seasons of competitive play along with 10 years of coaching experience. Taylor has earned two NSCAA diplomas and guided previous teams to success at the regional and advanced levels of play. He played soccer at the semi pro level in Las Vegas after completing his intercollegiate career at Bethany (Kan.) College and East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University. Taylor has coached soccer at the club and age-group level in Oklahoma, Nevada and Kansas.

His IC men’s teams have demonstrated a knack for tight defense and all-out hustle, and the results have helped the Blueboys achieve a higher degree of competitive success in the Midwest Conference. His immediate goal for the IC men’s and women’s teams is to field squads that can compete for the opportunity to qualify for the league’s championship post-season tournament.