Smith Announces Addition of Taylor to Elon Women’s Basketball Staff

ELON, N.C. – Elon women’s basketball head coach Charlotte Smith has announced the addition of assistant coach Tasha Taylor to the Phoenix program. Taylor, a former player at Clemson, comes to Elon after serving in the same role at Limestone College for the past two years.

“Tasha will be a tremendous asset to our program,” said Smith. “She is a first class person with the passion and humility it takes to be a successful coach in this business. As a player, Tasha was a very smart and skilled point guard. I know she has a lot of knowledge from her experiences as an elite guard in the ACC that will help elevate our guard play this year. Her collegiate coaching experience has exposed her to the many facets of coaching in which she will be able to contribute to our program. I look forward to the positive impact and influence she will bring to the Elon, our program and the community.”

“I am extremely excited to join Elon’s women’s basketball family and community,” said Taylor. “I am very grateful to be a part of a wonderful staff and working for Coach Smith. I am thrilled to have the chance to work under a outstanding player, motivator, role model and one of the great leaders of the game.”

In her time at Limestone, Taylor played a key role in guiding the team to its best two seasons in program history. She helped lead the Saints to a program-best 27-4 overall record in her first season before a 27-6 mark in 2013-14. During her tenure, Limestone clinched back-to-back Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championships, won the 2014 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship, made two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and advanced to the 2014 Elite Eight after claiming the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship. Taylor also directed and coordinated the operations for Limestone’s women’s basketball team camp.

Prior to Limestone, Taylor served as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Lees-McRae College. She played a leading role in the scouting and recruitment of student-athletes, and was also responsible for the preparation of scouting reports and for the skill development of guards and post players. While with the Bobcats, the team’s overall record improved in each successive season.

A four-year starter for the Clemson women’s basketball program, Taylor played under Elon assistant coach Cristy McKinney from 2005-2009. She ranks fourth all-time in Clemson history with 433 career assists and fifth all-time with 3.70 assists per game.

Taylor led the Tigers in assists during her sophomore and senior campaigns and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2005-06, while also earning the Playmaker Award following the 2005-06 and 2008-09 seasons. Off the court, she represented the team for three years on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A native of Columbus, Ga., Taylor graduated from Clemson University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management with an emphasis in Sports Management and a minor in Athletic Leadership.