Mizzou Volleyball’s Joshua Taylor Promoted to Full-Time Head Coach
11/14/2019 3:56:00 PM | Volleyball
First-year coach has interim tag removed
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Volleyball first-year leader, Joshua Taylor, has had the interim tag removed and will be named the seventh head coach in the program's 46-year history, announced Thursday by Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. Taylor was named the Tigers' interim head coach on July 18 following Wayne Kreklow and Susan Kreklow's retirement from the program this past summer after a highly-successful 19-year run.
Taylor has agreed to a five-year contract as Mizzou Volleyball head coach, extending him through the 2024 campaign.
"We are excited to remove the interim tag from Joshua's title and hand over this outstanding program to him and Molly Taylor," said Sterk. "Joshua has done an outstanding job since taking over on an interim basis last summer, and I am confident that Mizzou Volleyball will continue to excel academically and athletically under his leadership in future seasons."
"Stepping into an interim role is never easy, but Joshua has embraced it and kept our program moving toward yet another NCAA Tournament appearance," said Sterk. "He's earned the opportunity to lead this program on a permanent basis and I am excited to watch where he can take it in coming seasons."
??? Interim no more...
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) November 14, 2019
CONGRATS, @JoshTaylorMUVB?
?? >> https://t.co/z7XYC6Y6VA#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/efrJsAZFYJ
Taylor has made an immediate impact at the helm of the Mizzou program, as the Tigers have continued their tradition as one of the NCAA's elite volleyball institutions. As Mizzou competes in its final month of the 2019 regular season, Taylor and the Tigers have been nationally ranked eight times this year in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll, which stands as Mizzou's most single-season AVCA poll appearances since 2013, and are poised to make their fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance when selections are announced later this month.
"We had high expectations for Coach Taylor as Interim Head Coach and he has exceeded those in every aspect," said Mizzou Executive Associate Athletics Director and Volleyball Sport Administrator Andy Humes. "The team is performing well on the court and in the classroom and Coach Taylor is committed to fully developing our student-athletes, recruiting incredibly talented and well-rounded prospects and to Winning It Right. The future is bright for this program and we're thrilled that Joshua and Molly will be leading the way."
Mizzou, 16-6 overall and 8-4 in SEC play, currently sit at No. 19 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. The Tigers own five Top 50 RPI wins and seven Top 75 RPI victories on their season resume.
"I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead a program that I believe in so deeply," said Taylor. "Mizzou Volleyball has accomplished great things and I plan to build on those successes. Columbia is one of the best college towns in the country and it fosters the ultimate college experience for student-athletes. This university and city is home. It's difficult to express my appreciation for those that helped me get here."
?? l "I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead a program that I believe in so deeply."
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) November 15, 2019
"#Mizzou has accomplished great things and I plan to build on those successes. This university and city is home." - @JoshTaylorMUVB#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/yTBnZzacZF
Coach Taylor and Mizzou gained national attention in the team's second match of the season following a dominant sweep of then-No. 14 Michigan (Sept. 6). The Tigers have featured one of the NCAA's elite offenses this year, ranking No. 2 nationally in hitting percentage (.309), No. 8 in aces per set (1.83) and No. 9 in kills per set (14.45).
Taylor is in his third overall season on the Mizzou Volleyball staff. He served as the Tigers' assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2017-18, helping Mizzou to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and a 46-20 (.697) on-court record.
?? l #Mizzou Director of Athletics Jim Sterk dropped by practice tonight
— Mizzou Volleyball (@MizzouVB) November 15, 2019
Like Steve Jobs, he had "one more thing" for the Tigers before departing ??#MIZ #ShowMe ???? pic.twitter.com/YGeI2ZdLaA
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