Taylor returns home as new Priceville boys basketball coach
For the Enquirer
They say home is where the heart is and for Dale Taylor, home is Priceville. The Priceville alum has come back to where his love for basketball started more than 25 years ago.
Taylor was recently named as the new head coach for the Priceville boys basketball team.
“For me and my family, it is a great opportunity to come home and help my community,” Taylor said. “I grew up here and was in Priceville’s first four-year graduating class in 2005 after the high school opened in 2001. My wife graduated from here and now my kids go to school here.” Taylor spent 14 years at Tanner. The first 10 years as an assistant coach and the last four as the Rattlers’ head coach. He coached with legendary Tanner coach Chris Whitt, who won more than 700 games and two state championships. As a head coach, Taylor led the Rattlers to two area championships and back-to-back Elite Eight trips.
“Leaving Tanner is bittersweet for me,” Taylor said. “We experienced a lot of success during my time there, but I cannot take all the credit. We had a tremendous group of talented athletes and community support, and I was glad to be a part of it.” “But after a lot of prayer, God showed me that Priceville has always been my home and it was time to come back and make an impact,” Taylor added.
Taylor comes to Priceville during a time of tremendous change for the athletic program. Along with boys’ basketball, Bulldogs’ athletics have replaced its football and girls’ basketball coaches and will replace its baseball coach. And on top of all that, Priceville will be moving up to Class 5A.
“God is all about new beginnings and he has given me one here at Priceville,” Taylor said. “I believe that we can build something special here that our community will be proud of.” Priceville principal Shane Hopkins said he is excited about having Taylor come home.
“Coach Dale Taylor has 14 years’ experience coaching basketball and spent the last four seasons as head coach. He has been a major part of a very successful basketball program and was a part of two state championship teams. And as a head coach, he has continued the success,” Hopkins said. “We are very excited to have a Priceville graduate with his experience come back home and lead our program.”
