Media Guide - San Jacinto College

Coach Profiles
Eric Taylor
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Overall: 20-70 (three seasons)
Eric Taylor enters his fourth season as head coach of the San Jacinto
College women’s basketball team. After inheriting the squad prior to the
2008-09 season, Taylor has experienced the ups and downs of collegiate
basketball. However, he feels that this season could be a breakout one for
San Jac.
Last season was the most successful for San Jac under Taylor’s tutelage.
He guided SJC to a 9-22 overall record, and an appearance in the Region
XIV tournament for the first time in four years. With 11 freshmen on the
roster, it was a young team that rose to the challenge presented to them
at the start of the season. Jaleesa Allen and Wendi Mitchell earned All-
Conference honors.
During the 2009-2010 season, San Jac battled through numerous injuries,
losing eight different players by the half-way mark, leaving Taylor with
half of his original team of 15 to finish out the year. Despite a tough 6-23
overall record, 2-16 in conference play, Taylor felt there were some bright
spots. Adanna Opara and Ashley Watson signed National Letters of Intent to
play for Texas Pan American University, the team grade point average was
2.7, and all eight sophomores graduated from San Jacinto College. Opara
and team MVP Kaylin Little both earned All-Conference honorable mention
honors.
Taylor assumed the role of head coach prior to the 2008-09 season,
replacing Shawn Silman who stepped down after 12 seasons. As a rookie
head coach, Taylor and San Jac finished 5-25 on the season. That year,
Jasmyne Watson and Darshell Hatch were named to the National Junior
College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIV women’s basketball allconference
honorable mention team.
Taylor’s coaching
career includes a stint
as an assistant coach
at Southern University
in Shreveport, where
he also earned associate degrees in computer
science and mathematics. He earned a Bachelor of
Science in Health and Physical Secondary Education
at Louisiana State University at Shreveport. Taylor
played professionally in the Southwestern Basketball
League in Dallas, and on the Pro-Am Circuit in the
Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma region.
“I’m excited to be the head coach at San Jacinto
College,” added Taylor. “It is my belief that through
hard work, commitment and dedication, we can
reach the goals we’ve set for us here at San Jacinto
College.”
Prior to being named the head coach, he served
as a team consultant while in the role of physical
education instructor and director of intramural sports.
Taylor and his wife, Kimberly, have two children:
Xavier, 20; and Kayla, 13.
“I love the game. That’s why I coach,” noted Taylor. “It’s an opportunity for
student-athletes to get an education through the game of basketball, and I
can share with them my past experiences and teach them how to get to the
next level.”
Taylor is a native of Shreveport, La., where he attended Captain Shreve High
School. He lettered three years on the basketball team and graduated with
a 3.2 GPA. He went on to play at Holmes Community College in Goodman,
Miss., where he averaged 11.7 points and six rebounds per game for the
Bulldogs. He then transferred to the University of Southwestern Louisiana
where he averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game, and later
played for Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.
Head Coach Eric Taylor
6 San Jacinto College Women’s Basketball 2011-2012