Drury University has named Ben Taylor as the next head coach for their men’s soccer program.
Taylor played for the Panthers from 2007-2010 and has spent the previous six seasons as head coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He replaces Ryan Swan who stepped down last month to accept the head coaching position at the University of Northern Illinois.
“We are excited to welcome Ben Taylor back to the Drury campus,” said Drury University’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, Mark Fisher. “Ben was an outstanding player during his career here at Drury and has proven himself as a head coach during his time at Iowa Central. His passion for the game and for Drury University will allow us to build on the success of the Panthers men’s soccer program.”
Taylor put together a 76-36-8 record in six years at the Iowa junior college. His teams were ranked in the NJCAA top 20 in four of his six seasons with one of his teams ranked as high as second nationally. He coached three NJCAA All-Americans during his tenure at Iowa Central. Taylor also served as an assistant coach for the Des Moines Menace in the Premier Developmental League and helped the team to a 12-1-1 record in 2014.
“I’d like to thank Mark Fisher and the rest of the hiring committee for putting their faith in me,” said Taylor. “I’d also like to thank Iowa Central for all they have done for me over the past five and a half years. It is hard for me to put into words what the Drury men’s soccer program and Drury University as a whole means to me. I am privileged to be taking over from coach Swan and will work as hard as I can to build on his success. I am looking forward to getting back involved in the Springfield soccer community and can’t wait to get back on campus and get to work.”
While playing for the Panthers, Taylor was Second Team All-American selection, was a two-time First Team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference pick and was named to the All-Region first team three times. He finished his playing career ranked second all-time in assists at Drury with 23. Taylor helped the Panthers to the GLVC title in his junior year in 2009 with a team that went 21-2 and the squad advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA-II national tournament. He was a four-year starter, a team captain for three seasons and was on the GLVC All-Academic Team.
Taylor graduated from Drury in 2011 with a degree in Speech Communication.
Ben Taylor will be the fifth head coach for the Drury men’s soccer program that began in 1991. He inherits a team that went 13-4-4 and advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA-II national tournament.
