Debbie Taylor was named the seventh director of Athletics at
St. Edward's University in summer of 2002 — a job well deserved by this overachieving and devoted coaching veteran. Taylor first came to the hilltop in 1990 as head volleyball coach. She has been an Athletics administrator for St. Edward’s since 1995 and was promoted to associate athletic director in 1999. "My vision is for St. Edward’s to be one of the top 10 Division II athletic and academic programs in the nation," says Taylor. Throughout her 12 years as head volleyball coach and eight years as an athletic administrator, Taylor has brought experience and excellence to the university’s athletic programs.
A former all-American volleyball player, Taylor received a bachelor's degree in Education from Southwestern University in Georgetown where she established herself as one of the top volleyball players in the school’s history. Her team advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament twice in four years during her 1981 and 1983 seasons. She was an NAIA all-American in 1983 and 1984, and was selected to the all-national tournament team in 1983.
Her university named her most outstanding Physical Education major in 1985 and inducted her into its Athletic Hall of Honor in 1990. After her remarkable volleyball career, Taylor earned her master's degree in Physical Education and Educational Administration at Texas State University–San Marcos in 1992.
Following her numerous athletic and academic achievements, Taylor decided to tackle coaching, and put her skills to work at area high schools. Since arriving on the hilltop, Taylor has certainly set an example for St. Edward's University Athletics with her achievements on and off the court. She is recognized as one of the top college volleyball coaches in the Southwest, having an overall record at St. Edward’s of 428–167. In 1991, 1996 and 1997 her team won the Heart of Texas Conference and in 2001 won the Heartland Conference. In 1996 her team won the NAIA Southwest Region Tournament Championship — overall she has coached four teams to the national tournament, with two quarterfinal appearances.
In 1990, her first year at St. Edward’s, she was named coach of the year and again in 2001. In 12 seasons, Taylor has coached five conference most valuable players, seven conference freshmen of the year winners, 49 all-conference players, 67 academic all-conference players, 12 all-Americans and 11 scholar all-Americans.
She was honored as the 1993 NAIA District IV female administrator of the year, and in 1997 as the NAIA Southwest Region female administrator of the year. And, in 1995, Taylor received the Meritorious Service Award from the United States Volleyball Association for her contributions to and promotion of volleyball.
Taylor’s goal for the future is clear. “With a focus on continually improving the way Athletics operates, we’ll be able to further the quality of the student-athlete experience at St. Edward’s.”
No stranger to transitions or championship programs, Taylor has proven her commitment and merit to St. Edward's. Volleyball may have lost an amazing coach, but Athletics gained a superior administrator.
Taylor resides in Kyle with her husband Robert.