In his fifth season on the Golden Eagle coaching staff, Billy Taylor and the 3-4 system he installed for the defense upon his arrival had a huge impact on the team’s championship fortunes in 2011. On the way to the OVC title, Taylor’s Golden Eagle defense ranked first in the league in total defense and rushing defense, and second in scoring defense. Last year’s team also ranked second in pass efficiency defense, third in interceptions and fourth in pass defense.
   
Serving as associate head coach, he is also the defensive coordinator and coaches the inside linebackers. He joined the staff on Jan. 29, 2008.
   
Taylor, 48, came to Tech from UT Chattanooga, where he was the Mocs’ defensive coordinator for three seasons. Three years ago, the Golden Eagles were first in the Ohio Valley Conference in turnover margin. Two years ago, the Tech defense ranked second in the OVC in interceptions and turnover margin.
   
Taylor joined the UTC staff following the 2004 season, filling the role of defensive coordinator while also coaching the inside linebackers. Prior to his arrival at UTC, Taylor served as Elon’s defensive coordinator and also coached inside linebackers for one year in 2004.
   
Nearly all of Taylor’s collegiate coaching career prior to Tech was within the Southern Conference as he has also worked at East Tennessee State and Wofford. Taylor worked at ETSU from 1997 to 2003, coaching linebackers. He served five years as the recruiting coordinator and the final two as the defensive coordinator.
   
Taylor-coached defenses at ETSU and Elon caused an incredible 92 takeaways in three years from 2002 to 2004. His Buccaneer defensive unit led the SoCon in 2002 and 2003, and the Phoenix ranked second in the league in takeaways in 2004 with 25. His 2003 ETSU defense ranked among the top 30 in the nation in eight different defensive categories.
   
The Morristown, Tenn., native was an assistant coach at Wofford from 1991-96, working as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Southern Mississippi in 1989 and 1990.
   
Taylor earned a degree in Mass Communications from ETSU in 1988. He was a three-year starter as an outside linebacker for the Bucs and was voted team captain his senior year in 1987.
   
He is married to the former Kristine Renz of Easley, S.C., and the couple has two children, Mikaelah Jean, 13, and McKenzie, 10. His brother, Bobby Taylor, is a Tech football letterman.