@MizzouVB’s Joshua Taylor Named Interim Head Coach
7/18/2019 3:46:00 PM | Volleyball
Honolulu native set to lead Tigers in upcoming 2019 campaign
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Volleyball assistant coach Joshua Taylor has been promoted to interim head coach for the 2019 season, announced Thursday by Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. Taylor takes over the reins of the Tiger program, following the retirement announcement by Wayne Kreklow and Susan Kreklow.
"Joshua Taylor enjoys tremendous respect among our student-athletes and staff, and is most-deserving of this opportunity to serve as Mizzou's Interim Head Volleyball Coach for the 2019 season," Sterk said. "He has played a critical role in Mizzou's academic, on-court and recruiting success over the last three years, and I look forward to watching his team compete this fall. I believe that Joshua and Molly (Taylor) are an excellent husband-wife coaching duo, and that they will build upon our program's proud tradition and successes."
"We're excited for the upcoming season and know this group is going to be great!" the Kreklows said. "We know that Joshua and his staff are going to do a great job with the program and we couldn't be more excited for everyone!"
Taylor enters his third overall season on the Mizzou Volleyball coaching staff in 2019. Prior to his newly appointed role as interim head coach, Taylor served as the Tigers' lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
"I'm extremely humbled to be named the interim head coach for the 2019 season," Taylor said. "I want to thank Athletic Director Jim Sterk for having faith in my ability to lead this year's squad. I also want to thank Senior Deputy Athletics Director Sarah Reesman and Executive Associate Athletics Director Andy Humes for their support.
I want to thank Wayne and Susan for the amazing things they've done for this program and the example they've set for me over the years I've worked with them. I'm grateful for their guidance and support during this transition. This program and university means a great deal to me and I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity and I can't wait for the season ahead!"
The Honolulu native specializes in blocking and serve and receive instruction for the Tiger student-athletes. In his first-year coaching campaign, the 2017 Mizzou squad tallied 377.5 total blocks and 547 block assists, marking new program all-time single-season records. Additionally, the Tigers' 2.88 blocks per set (second) and 104 solo blocks (seventh) each cracked the program's all-time single-season top-10 record book.
This past season, Taylor played a pivotal role into middle blocker Alyssa Munlyn becoming the program's first-ever four-time AVCA All-American. She concluded her storied four-year career as the program's leader in hitting percentage, total blocks, block assists and blocks per set.
Prior to his coaching career at Mizzou, Taylor excelled in the collegiate and professional volleyball ranks as a player. In 2016, he competed with the U.S. National Team at the Pan AM Cup and Olympic Training Team. Before his outstanding collegiate playing career at Pepperdine University, Taylor competed with the U.S. Junior National Team and led the team to first place at the 2010 NORCECA Men's Junior Continental Championship.
Taylor starred collegiately at Pepperdine from 2012-15, earning two AVCA All-American honors and three All-MPSF accolades. During his 2014 junior campaign, Taylor became only the 18th player in program history to surpass 1,000 career kills. He concluded his four-year career in Malibu, California, with 1,433 career kills and 1,630 career points.
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