Dwayne Taylor is in his second year on the NSU football staff. He serves as the Spartans’ cornerbacks coach.
In his first season on staff, the Spartans tied for first in the MEAC with 14 interceptions. Two of Taylor’s proteges, Brandon Savage (first team) and Justin Toler (second team), earned All-MEAC honors after ranking in the MEAC’s top five in interceptions. Savage also ranked second in the league in passes defended.
Taylor joined the Spartan staff after spending the 2020 season as running backs coach and video coordinator at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi. Taylor was responsible for all passing plays in the game plan each week, handled the team’s film exchange and served as the Bulldogs’ Louisiana recruiting liaison. Three of his running backs received offers to attend four-year schools.
Prior to coaching at Holmes, Taylor spent four seasons at a pair of NAIA football programs, Texas Wesleyan University and Trinity International University. At Texas Wesleyan, Taylor served as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He was responsible game planning and implementing all passing concepts each week. TWU averaged better than 30 points per game in Taylor’s second year and boasted an NAIA All-American receiver in Brandon Rolfe.
Taylor held the titles of defensive backs coach, co-defensive coordinator and return game coordinator at Trinity International University in Illinois in 2016 and 2017. Taylor was part of a staff that helped the team double its win total in his first year over the prior season. In addition to playing a vital role in weekly game planning and recruiting, Taylor also mentored all-conference defensive back Jarell Carter, who went on to sign contracts with three different NFL teams.
Taylor began his coaching career at the high school level in Mississippi and Louisiana. His stints include defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator at Natchez High School (Miss.), offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at St. Helena Central High (La.), defensive coordinator and head coach at Delta Charter School (La.) and defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator at Wilkinson County High School (Miss.).
Taylor played safety at Alcorn State University, where he was a two-year starter at safety and special teams captain. He earned honorable mention All-SWAC honors in 2007 and posted six career interceptions. Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation from Alcorn State in 2008.
