»RELATED: DPS hires Taylor as Dunbar basketball coach
Taylor comes to Dunbar with no head coaching experience at the varsity level, but the Dayton native has worked with local players for years. He founded and still coaches the Dayton Nets AAU team and has coached at several middle schools in the Dayton Public school system.
Taylor takes over for longtime Dunbar coach Pete Pullen, whose contract was not renewed. He led the Wolverines to state titles in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012.
Taylor introduced his coaching staff, which features Donovan Brown, Larry Flowers, Willie Coaster, Tony Dixin and Charlotte Harris.
Here are five questions with Taylor:
Question: The new head coach at Dunbar High School. How does that title sound to you?
Answer: It's going to be a challenge. Dunbar has set the bar high after Roth closed. Dunbar became the school where athletes competed and competed at a high level. Hopefully I can keep that up and hopefully bring back some more hardware.
Q: You talk about winning not being the only thing at this level. That's important to you isn't it?
A: Basketball is a small window and you have to get the student athletes to have a plan B. Everybody doesn't go to the NBA, you have to have a backup. I come here as living proof … college athlete, had a backup plan, and it worked out for me.
Q: They are used to winning here at Dunbar. Do you feel pressure as the head coach that has to continue that success?
A: You do the right thing, the wins will come. My mentor, Mike Haley, I'm going to bring the same philosophy that he had. That's playing hard and playing smart. You do those things you win games.
Q: Will we see a different style of play than what Dunbar fans are used to?
A: I think I have the athletes to do what I want. I like that fast-break offense, I like man-to-man defense in your face. We're going to keep up the same philosophy they've had here.
Q: You experienced that target on your back in your days on the court at Roth. It's the same here at Dunbar, you know that going in. Is that something you embrace rather than back away from?
A: It's a challenge. I'm used to it. When I played at Roth everybody hated Roth, and now at Dunbar they want to beat us and I'm ready for that challenge.
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