Stanford ‘wants a reset,’ fires soccer HC Taylor

Stanford fired soccer coach Troy Taylor, the varsity introduced Tuesday.

The choice comes every week after ESPN reported that two exterior corporations had discovered Taylor bullied and belittled feminine athletic staffers, sought to have an NCAA compliance officer eliminated after she warned him of guidelines violations and repeatedly made “inappropriate” feedback to a different girl about her look.

“Since starting my position as Common Supervisor, I’ve been totally assessing your entire Stanford soccer program. It has been clear that sure elements of this system want change,” Stanford soccer normal supervisor Andrew Luck mentioned in a press release. “Moreover, in latest days, there was vital consideration to Stanford investigations in earlier years associated to Coach Taylor.

“After continued consideration it’s evident to me that our program wants a reset. In session with college management, I now not consider that Coach Taylor is the suitable coach to guide our soccer program. Coach Taylor has been knowledgeable at the moment and the change is efficient instantly.”

It’s unclear whether or not the college must pay out the rest of Taylor’s contract.

In response to ESPN’s report final week, Stanford mentioned Taylor had complied with the investigations and was dedicated to bettering his habits. Sources advised ESPN that Luck met with the workforce in Taylor’s presence on Thursday and doubled down on his help for the coach.

— Stanford Soccer (@StanfordFball) March 25, 2025

Based on paperwork obtained by ESPN, the investigations started after a number of staff filed complaints towards Taylor for what they known as hostile and aggressive habits, in addition to private assaults, the reviews mentioned. The varsity employed Kate Weaver Patterson, of KWP Consulting & Mediation, to analyze in spring 2023.

After the primary investigation, Taylor signed a warning letter on Feb. 14, 2024, acknowledging he could possibly be fired if the conduct continued, in response to the paperwork. Extra complaints have been documented in a second investigation that ended final July 24, however Taylor remained on the job.

The second investigation cited proof “that that is an ongoing sample of regarding habits by Coach Taylor.” It was carried out final June and July by Timothy O’Brien, senior counsel for the Libby, O’Brien, Kingsley & Champion legislation agency in Maine. O’Brien, who has suggested a number of Division I and Energy 5 applications, mentioned in his report that he has by no means encountered “this palpable stage of animosity and disdain” for a college compliance workplace.

“Even throughout the interview with me, when speaking about compliance points, Coach Taylor’s tone was forceful and aggressive,” O’Brien wrote.

He known as Taylor’s therapy of the workforce’s compliance officer “inappropriate, discriminatory on the premise of her intercourse,” saying it had a “vital unfavourable impression” on the staffer. O’Brien concluded that Taylor retaliated towards the compliance staffer by “looking for her elimination from her assigned duties” after she raised issues about NCAA guidelines violations associated to unlawful practices and participant eligibility.

O’Brien outlined doable disciplinary procedures, together with termination, beneath NCAA bylaws if an worker retaliates, “comparable to intimidating, threatening, or harassing a person who has raised a declare.”

One supply with direct information advised ESPN that Taylor has “misplaced the locker room.” Two sources advised ESPN that Taylor’s habits prolonged past athletic division and compliance workplace employees and onto the sphere.

Taylor had back-to-back 3-9 seasons earlier than he was fired. He was beforehand the pinnacle coach at Sacramento State.

In a press release to ESPN final week, Taylor mentioned he was utilizing the investigations as a “studying alternative.”

“I willingly complied with the investigations, accepted the suggestions that got here out of them, and used them as a studying alternative to develop in management and the way I work together with others,” Taylor mentioned. “I stay up for persevering with to work collaboratively and collegially with my colleagues in order that we are able to obtain success for our soccer program collectively.”

Taylor didn’t instantly reply to a message from ESPN looking for touch upon Tuesday’s firing.

Pete Thamel contributed to this report.