With his son, Brett Taylor, graduating from Iola High School this May, Marty Taylor knew that if he and his wife, Janalin, were going to make a move, this would be the time.
The Taylors will be moving to Las Vegas as Brett begins his college career at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Janalin is a counselor with the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center.
“Brett is coming out here, so we just decided that with all the kids out of school, to get up and make a change,” Taylor said.
Marty Taylor has spent the past 11 seasons coaching in the Iola school system. He served as the head coach for Iola Middle School football, girls’ basketball and boys’ basketball while also working as an assistant coach for Mark Percy’s high school baseball program.
“I’m going to miss working with the kids,” Taylor said. “The No. 1 reason why you do (this job) is to work with the kids. I’ve developed relationship that even after they are out of school, they call to tell you how much they enjoyed (playing) and that it is still a highlight of their athletic career. That is the main thing I’m going to miss is the relationships with the kids.
Iola sophomore Derek Bycroft has played for Taylor in middle school football, basketball and high school baseball. Bycroft says Taylor’s contributions won’t be easy to replaced.
“Marty coached me in almost everything I played in junior high and high school,” Bycroft said. “He is a good coach for every sport. He helps you when you need it, but he’ll also yell at you when you need it.”
Bycroft — who earned first-team all-league honors with the Mustang baseball team this year — gives Taylor a lot of the credit for developing his game on the diamond.
“He helped my swing,” the Mustang third baseman and pitcher said. “I finally started hitting well at the end of the season after we worked together.”
One of Taylor’s vacated positions has already been filled with Scott Ellis taking over the middle school football program and Taylor is confident that he is leaving the program is in good hands.
“He’ll do a great job,” Taylor said. “He has helped out the five years.”
Taylor says he does not plan on jumping right back into coaching in Nevada. He will enjoy some time off, but in the future he may look to get back on the sidelines again.
