DURHAM, N.C. - With a reputation of winning and 18 years of head coaching experience, Vanessa Taylor was announced as the eighth head women’s basketball coach at North Carolina Central University on Wednesday, April 18 during a press conference in the Emma Marable Conference Room of the William Jones Building on the NCCU campus.Taylor

“We have selected a true winner to lead our women’s basketball program.  Coach Taylor is a genuine person who is passionate, empathetic, charismatic, and very successful in the field of developing young women to become scholars, winners, and most importantly leaders,” said NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Ingrid Wicker-McCree.  “Her philosophy statement, which governs her personal and professional life, is focused on four principles: character, courage, competitive greatness and passion.  She is exactly the type of leader we want for our women’s basketball student-athletes.”

Taylor hangs up her blue and gold for maroon and gray after 11 seasons as head coach at Johnson C. Smith University and seven seasons as head coach at Elizabeth City State University. During that time, her teams posted 13 consecutive winning seasons, including six campaigns with 20-plus victories.  She was selected as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year on three occasions (1998, 2000, 2011).

She guided JCSU to its first CIAA tournament title in 2009, while finishing as conference tournament runners-up on five occasions (2003, 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2012).  Under Taylor’s leadership, the Golden Bulls made five NCAA tournament appearances (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012) and garnered top 25 national rankings in four seasons (2004-05, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12).

JCSU President Ronald L. Carter said her departure is a bittersweet moment for the University and the Department of Athletics.
 
“I am very sad to see Coach Taylor leave JCSU and would like her to stay,” said Carter. “We have been in talks over the past several weeks; however, the opportunity ahead of her is too great for her to turn down. I am extremely excited for her to rise to new possibilities at her growing edge and advance her career at North Carolina Central University. I always speak with our students, faculty and staff about seizing opportunities and embracing possibilities. I extend my congratulations and best wishes for a successful future to Coach Taylor.”

Taylor is the all-time winningest women’s basketball coach at JCSU with a school record of 215-112 and career record of 298-207.

“We are very appreciative of the 11 years of service provided by Vanessa Taylor and her coaching staff,” said Director of Athletics Stephen Joyner, Sr. “I regrettably understand her desire to stretch her wings and coach in a different league. However, this is the nature of the beast within intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Carter and our administration proposed accommodations for her to remain with the University. Coach Taylor has done an outstanding job leading our women’s basketball program. I hate to see her leave, but support her decision and wish her success for the future.”

Prior to joining the JCSU program, Taylor spent seven seasons as the head coach at Elizabeth City State (1994-2001) and two seasons as an assistant coach at Hampton University (1992-94).

Under her direction at ECSU, the Lady Vikings won the regular-season Eastern Division championship in 2000 and 2001.  She was selected as the 1997 and 1998 CIAA Coach of the Year with the Lady Vikings.

In her two seasons at Hampton, Taylor helped guide the Lady Pirates to the 1994 CIAA Tournament Championship and a regional playoff appearance.

Taylor will remain ay JCSU until the expiration of her current contract on May 31st.

Her NCCU appointment is a five-year term beginning July 1, with an annual salary of $120,000.

 - NCCU and JCSU Athletic Communications contributed to this story.