Nick Taylor is in his third year as the Briar Cliff football program’s defensive coordinator. Taylor coached an aggressive defense in 2015 with the defense setting the school record for sacks in a game with five against Presentation and the team finished with the second most sacks in a season with 23. Taylor also helped linebacker Andre Reyes set the school record for tackles in a season with 139 on his way to second team all-conference honors.
Taylor came to Briar Cliff from Bethany College, in Lindsborg, Kan., where he served as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and eventually interim head coach. Taylor coached at Bethany for six years, also serving as the program’s strength and conditioning coach and team community service coordinator as well as the institution’s intramural director. This past spring he also served as an assistant coach with the Salina Bombers indoor football team, overseeing the squad’s offensive line. Prior to coaching at Bethany, Taylor spent two seasons (2005, 2006) as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Eureka College, in Eureka, Illinois. While there, he also taught physical education classes and served as the school’s intramural director.
Taylor, a native of Oelwein, Iowa, played collegiately at Sterling College, in Sterling, Kansas. In 1999, the center was selected to play in the All-American Bowl. Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Sterling College and later his master’s degree in sports science with an emphasis in sport coaching from the United States Sports Academy. Out of college, he got into coaching at MicGill-Toolen High School. From there, he went to Morningside, where he served as an assistant coach, from 2001 until 2005. During that time he also served as a strength and conditioning coach, equipment manager and as a hall director.
Taylor, a member of both the FCA and the AFCA, has been highly involved in numerous camps over the years as both a director and a clinician. He has also been involved in the community and is known for supporting causes and organizations he is passionate about such as Relay for Life and St. Jude’s. At each of his last two stops, he served as an FCA Huddle Leader and he founded the huddle at Eureka.
Nick, his wife, Trace and their daughter, Maggie, reside in Sioux City.
