FORT WORTH, TX – Troy Taylor has been named as the Interim Head Coach for Cross Country and Track and Field for the 2026-27 season, announced by Texas Wesleyan University.

Taylor is coming off his first season as the Assistant Coach at Texas Wesleyan for Cross Country and Track and Field in which he led the Rams to their first Cross Country Conference Individual Champion since 2012 as well as several conference champions in Track and Field.

Prior to his time at Texas Wesleyan, Taylor was an assistant coach at Nicholls State (2023-25), Emory & Henry University (2021-23) and American River College (2020-21). Prior to his assistant coaching tenure, he was a volunteer coach for his alma mater at the University of North Texas and helped coach them to its second Conference USA title in five years in cross country. During his coaching tenure, Taylor led athletes to several conference championships, record breaking performances, and athletic careers beyond college.

Before Coaching, Taylor was an All-Conference and All-NCAA South Central Region honoree. In 2015, Taylor was the Conference USA Indoor Track & Field Champion in the 3000m. He placed second in the 1,500 meters at the 2013 Sun Belt Championships and the 2014 Conference USA Championships.In 2012, Taylor was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year in Cross Country. Taylor became a conference champion in 2014 when he helped lead the Mean Green to a Conference USA title. Taylor was a three-time national qualifier and competed at the 2014 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. He also competed at the 2014 and 2015 NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round in the 1500m.

Athletic Director Ricky Dotson was pleased to announce Taylor as the Interim Head Coach due to his success last season and his commitment to building up the student athletes as well as the program.

"Troy is committed to the success of our athletes and has earned the confidence of our department through his dedication and steady leadership," Dotson said. "We look forward to seeing him continue to build on the strong foundation of our track and cross-country programs while leading our Rams to even greater success."