In this week’s episode of Inside the Headset, Presented by CoachComm, we’re joined by Western Michigan Head Coach Lance Taylor. From his beginnings as a walk-on at Alabama to leading the Broncos to the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl, Coach Taylor shares his journey through the coaching profession, his commitment to building meaningful relationships, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

🎙 In This Episode, You’ll Learn About:

• How a walk-on experience at Alabama shaped Coach Taylor’s approach to life and coaching.

• Key lessons from working with legendary coach Nick Saban.

• Transitioning from college football to the NFL and back.

• Developing strong player-coach relationships in both collegiate and professional settings.

• Navigating career opportunities and overcoming hardships as a young coach.

🎖 Coach Taylor was recently named to the AFCA’s Board of Trustees, and his passion for growth and leadership shines throughout this conversation.

📌 Episode Timestamps: 1:15 – When Coach Taylor realized he wanted to coach. 2:54 – Walk-on experience at Alabama. 8:18 – Learning from Nick Saban. 17:27 – Coaching with the New York Jets. 26:12 – First role with the Carolina Panthers. 28:16 – Coaching RBs at Stanford. 32:22 – Experience in the interview process. 35:08 – Sharpening your tools as an offensive coach at Stanford. 37:13 – Returning to the Panthers as the WR coach. 40:01 – Leaving a good impression on the people you work for. 41:58 – Returning to the college game as the RB coach at Notre Dame. 44:27 – Learning lessons from each head coach you work for. 47:31 – First opportunity as an Offensive Coordinator at Louisville. 51:45 – Involvement in the offense as a HC. 53:41 – Differences in interviews for Coordinator jobs. 55:04 – Hiring a staff as a first-time HC. 59:49 – Joining the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.

 

📢 Connect With Coach Taylor & WMU:

• Follow Lance Taylor: @CoachLT39

• Follow WMU Football: @WMU_Football

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