Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 4-17-20

Feature
Young Coach, 35, Named ‘Coach Of The Year’ In Pinellas
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Feature Writer
To meet Coach Britt Taylor is to meet a laid-back family man, with a twinkle in his eye and a quick grin. You wouldn’t immediately know that he was one of the most successful coaches in Pinel- las County.
That drive to build kids’ futures, direct them to suc- cess, and be solid foundation isn’t broadcast. He is not that kind of guy. But the first time you see him on the sidelines, or in a huddle, you realize that Coach Taylor is a force of nature. He is a natural leader who manages to be a teacher, friend and coach. He inspires his players to always give a little more to reach their goals.
Recently, Coach Taylor was named the ‘Coach of the Year’ for Basketball in Pinel- las County after taking the East Lake Eagles to the Class 6A state championship and having the best season in East Lake history.
The Eagles lost to Bartow in the basketball finals, but no one can deny the fierce- ness of play and coaching that had the gym full of spec- tators. The Eagles’ 26-4 sea- son was built on the previous year’s success when they
made it to the regional finals. Coach Taylor has also been the ‘Coach of the Year for Track’ for Pinellas County
for the past eight years.
The most fulfilling part of his winning the award are the accomplishments by in-
dividual team members. Coach Taylor says, “you put so much into coach- ing that it becomes more ful- filling when your kids win awards and when they get ac- knowledgement of their suc-
cess.”
His down-to-earth nature
makes for a great relation- ship with his students. They know that he was in their shoes not so long ago. He can relate to the struggles and pressures that high school athletes face as basketball players and track athletes.
Taylor’s most fulfilling
roles aside from the stellar growth and accomplishment for basketball is his role as Head Coach of Track. He has also been the ‘Coach of the Year for Track’ Pinellas County for the past eight years.
Last year, a member of the girls track team broke the state record in the 3,200- meter race. She has been re- cruited to run for the University of Florida. He also coached the national cham- pion in heptathlon. She is now at Wake Forrest Univer- sity. Taylor devotes the same level of intensity to track and cross country as he does to basketball.
For Coach Taylor, sports is a part of his life. He was born in Seattle, Wash- ington and grew up with his parents and sister, Bianca in
the suburbs of Chicago, Illi- nois. Both he and his sister were big athletes in school. Their father is football great, Bruce Taylor, who played in the NFL for the San Fran- cisco 49ers. Their uncle, Brian, played in the NBA for the San Diego (now Sacramento) Clippers.
Taylor says that his fa- ther, Bruce, is his biggest role model and he greatly ad- mires him. He deeply appre- ciates his mother as well. Taylor’s mother, Terrez (Terry) Taylor, never missed her children’s games or events. Coach Taylor says that from middle school through college, his mother would attend every meet or game, even if it meant flying across country. He tells his students to “never take for granted that your parents care about you.”
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Taylor moved to Florida to be closer to his family. He began look- ing for work in 2008, when the economy was dismal. He started substitute teaching at
East Lake High School and soon got his teaching certifi- cate. He taught Special Edu- cation because he felt the need was there. He then transitioned into PE and Health. He always knew that he wanted to be involved in the school’s sports programs.
The 35-year-old coach has been the head coach of track and cross country for 10 years, and the head bas- ketball coach for 6 years.
Coach Taylor lives in Pinellas County with wife, Jennifer, and their seven- month-old son, Brayden.
Congratulations, Coach of the Year, Britt Taylor!
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A