Elon announces hiring of Billy Taylor as head men’s basketball coach

Iowa assistant Billy Taylor has been hired as the new head coach at Elon, the school announced on Friday. Taylor was previously the head coach at Lehigh, Ball State and most recently D-II Belmont Abbey (NC).

“I want to welcome Billy, his wife, Avlon, and his three children, Tamia, Gavielle and Savion, to Elon,” AD Dave Blank said in a statement. “Billy’s background impressed everyone involved in our search, including his head coaching experience, his NCAA Tournament experience, and his time spent in the region. We are confident that he is a great fit for the student-athletes on our current team and we look forward to his leadership in our program, our department, and on our campus.”

Taylor re-joined Fran McCaffery‘s staff at Iowa in 2019 after three seasons at Belmont Abbey, located about 120 miles from the Elon campus. He previously worked with the Hawkeyes from 2013-16 and also served as one of McCaffery‘s assistants at UNC Greensboro from 1999-2002.

“I am humbled and honored to accept the head coaching position at Elon University,” said Taylor. “I want to thank President Connie Ledoux Book and Dave Blank for offering me the opportunity to serve the student-athletes in our basketball program. As a program, we will pursue excellence on the basketball court, in the classroom and in the community. Our family is excited to begin this new journey, and we look forward to joining the Elon community.”

Former Elon head coach Mike Schrage left his position earlier this month to take a job on Jon Scheyer‘s staff at Duke. The Phoenix have been to the postseason just one time (2013 CIT) since moving up to D-I in 1999 and have never won a postseason game as a program.

credit to Elon Athletics for the image