Yale’s long-time head coach Tim Taylor has been removed from that position and will be offered reassignment within the athletic department. The announcement was made today by Tom Beckett, Yale athletics director.
“Tim Taylor has been an exceptional coach, mentor and ambassador of Yale Hockey as well as all of amateur hockey for 30 years. We are extremely respectful and appreciative of his service to Yale and his dedication and loyalty to the men of Yale Hockey,” said Beckett. “We believe, however, that now is the time to provide new leadership for the next generation of student-athletes in this program.”
No details about replacing Taylor were included in the announcement.
Taylor’s 28th and final Yale season ended with a 10-20-3 record and an ECAC Hockey League quarterfinal playoff loss at Dartmouth on March 11. Taylor, whose record with the Bulldogs is 342-433-55, has coached all six of the school’s Hobey Baker Award finalists and is in his 30th year at the university. He took two leaves of absence to coach U.S. Olympic Teams.
In an email sent to Yale athletic staff and obtained by USCHO, Taylor expressed disappointment that he was not able to leave the bench on his own terms, but praised the state of the hockey program. “I have attempted to build my coaching philosophy on the principles of honesty and integrity and have always wanted Yale Hockey to reflect those values,” Taylor wrote. “As difficult as it will be to leave Yale on less than ideal terms, I will leave knowing the program is on solid ground in this regard.”
Taylor, who has coached 825 games — more than anyone in the history of the ECACHL — has more victories than any Yale hockey mentor. His tenure at Ingalls Rink has included one conference title, 19 ECACHL playoff appearances and three 20-win seasons. Taylor, who has taught numerous future professional athletes, was the national coach of the year in 1997-98 when the Bulldogs captured the conference regular-season title and played in the NCAA Tournament. He has been conference coach of the year three times and has also won six Ivy League championships.
Taylor’s last victory, a 3-2 win over Union on March 4, was the longest (141:35) game in the history of NCAA men’s hockey. That win sealed the two-game sweep in the first round of the conference playoffs and sent Yale into the quarterfinals against ECACHL regular-season champion Dartmouth.
