As the calendar reads September, most sports fans turn their focus from the Olympics to the start of college football, but one team on Auburn’s campus remains focused on Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Newly named Auburn wheelchair basketball head coach Rob Taylor will be an assistant coach for the United States men’s Paralympic basketball team at the 2016 Paralympic Games, which began Sept. 7. This will be the second time Taylor has coached in the event, after winning a gold medal with the women’s team in the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Although Taylor is currently focused on bringing a gold medal home, he is hoping his time with the American team will benefit his Auburn program.
“I am just hoping my experience with the U.S. team will help bring exposure to our program at Auburn,” Taylor said. “We still have a very young and developing program, and it is not very known around campus that we have a wheelchair basketball team. So, my goal is that our success in Rio will draw some attention to our Auburn team.”
Taylor, a graduate of the University of Illinois, has been involved with wheelchair basketball for nearly 20 years. Taylor brings an immense amount of experience to the Plains, something his players hope will help transform the Tigers program.
“[Taylor] has coached at the highest level, and he will push us to compete at the highest level because that is the only level he knows,” said Hunter Alvis, graduate student.
Auburn is coming off the most successful season in the program’s history, which began in 2009. Auburn completed 9-7 last season with a 9-7 record and was ranked No.8 in the country. After tasting success a season ago, this year’s team is hungry for more. Future graduate student Jason Clark is confident Taylor will be the difference.
“To build the program to where we want it, you have to build on the players you already have, and you try to recruit some new talent along with that,” Clark said. “Hopefully with Coach Taylor, we will turn some heads and be able to bring in some good recruits.”
The mood around the program has already changed in the few months Taylor has been in Auburn. Head athletic trainer Matthew Hanks has noticed a significant improvement in the atmosphere around the team.
“There is a lot more expectation and accountability. Everyone knows what they have to do [individually], along with the team goal,” Hanks said. “Coach Taylor is making those goals more attainable and realistic. Last year we built the foundation, and it is about solidifying it now.”
Although Taylor would love to be on top of the rankings this season, he knows sustained success is not so easy. Taylor’s hope is that his program can join the elite programs in the country within the next few years.
“We know we will have some tough games this season, but my goal is as we progress through the season, we start to close the gap against the top programs,” Taylor said. “That will show the progress I want to make, and my hope is that within the next year or two we are able to be one of those top programs.”
Taylor and the Tigers will tip off their season at home on Oct. 29 with a home tournament against professional teams throughout the Southeast. Auburn will travel throughout the country for tournaments, including stops at the University of Missouri; Wichita, Kansas and Champagne, Illinois. This season’s national tournament will be held at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the beginning of March.
For now, Taylor’s team is waiting for the U.S. Paralympic team to tip off. “Oh, absolutely,” Alvis said when asked if the Auburn team will be watching Taylor and the American team together. “We’re going to get together, break down the film, and cheer them on.”
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