Be the Key– an Interview with Player Development Specialist and High School Coach Corey Taylor

By Jeremy Raymer

INDIANAPOLIS, IN– Recognizing Black excellence is not a “Black History Month-only” thing. Celebrating wisdom, mentorship, and experience is year-round. Now March Madness is upon us, so let’s celebrate local leadership in our month’s favorite sport.

I’m excited to share Coach Corey Taylor’s story with you. He’s the Varsity Assistant Basketball Coach at Ben Davis High School, and he’s involved in player development from high school to the pros throughout the Midwest. He and his wife, Tyla, have two amazing children– Morgan (6) and Royce (2).

I first met Coach Taylor while I worked at Noblesville High School. He was always leading from the front with the boy’s basketball team– encouraging them to be better people, better students, and better athletes (and in that order). I felt privileged to witness his dedication and mentorship in action and learn from his example.

A couple of weeks ago, I sat down (socially distanced over the phone, of course) to talk with him about his experiences.

Q: Hey Coach! Thanks for taking time out of your day to talk with me on behalf of the Foundation. We’ve known each other for a little while now since our time together at Noblesville High School, but what inspired you to get into coaching?

My parents were both teachers and coaches. My dad coached basketball for 37 years, and my mom coached volleyball for 30 years. She’s still active with the sport, too, as a volleyball referee. So, growing up with those two, I was set up for a life in sports and education. I played basketball all four years of high school at Champaign Centennial in Illinois.

Going into college, I knew that I wanted to focus on Physical Education. I first got my Associates Degree at Parkland College, and then I got into Eastern Illinois University on my academics. But after a few years of not playing basketball, I was missing the game. I’d been practicing with the basketball team for a while, so I decided to become the student manager of the team during my Junior year to be a part of the game. I learned so much from Coach Rick Samuels during that time. He’s a legend. 

Since I was a young man, I made my moves in life based on faith and prayer. Soon after I graduated from Eastern, I started coaching middle school kids at age 24. One thing led to another, and I ended up working with some elite level, D1-scholarship-bound talent. It was working camps out of college that led me to my first high school coaching job at Champaign Illinois Central High School. 

After that, I spent a year working with athletes on basketball skill development. I got a call from a good friend and college assistant coach about the Noblesville coaching job. I took that opportunity on faith, and I served the next 2 years as an assistant coach at Noblesville High School.

Coach Taylor with his wife, Tyla, and their two children Morgan (left) and Royce (right)

Q: Sports and coaching is clearly in your blood. And from what I saw you do at Noblesville, you’ve really made an impact on the kids.

Well, that’s the goal. I look at basketball as the “vehicle” to help me reach the kids. I’ve worked with youth all the way up to college, and each person has had unique challenges for their age and particular situation in life. 

Through basketball, we have a common ground. I invite these young men and women to church, and I’ve always tried to stress that you need to be a good person first before you’re a good athlete. They have lots of struggles, but it’s important that they know to never be discouraged because you are enough. And you’ll overcome the situation if you work hard and keep working hard. 

Q: Amen, coach. Helping shape a good person is the goal over any athletic ability or skill set. When you look back over your career so far, what are you most proud of?

Besides helping kids overcome their struggles and become better people? Coaching with my dad at Champaign Central was a big highlight since I grew up as a young kid watching him coach– even though he says he was just a “volunteer.” It was also pretty cool to coach in a State Championship game… even though we got runner’s up. Also, helping kids get through the NBA Pre-draft process has been a great accomplishment and learning process.

Q: If you could choose your legacy, what would it be?

I want to be the key– the missing piece for someone that needs it. I want to be known as a servant leader that put others first and sacrificed in order to impact lives.