Taylor University Athletics Director, Kyle Gould, announced on Thursday evening that Kelly Packard had resigned as the head coach of the TU women’s basketball program.

“Taylor University has been blessed to have Kelly Packard serve as our women’s basketball coach these past four years,” stated Gould. “She has had an incredible impact on the women’s basketball program, her colleagues in the athletics department and most importantly, the young women she has coached and mentored during her tenure. While we would have loved to see her return, we fully respect her decision and wish Kelly, Rich and Evan nothing but the best moving forward.”

Packard became the head coach of the Taylor women’s basketball team prior to the start of the 2013-2014 campaign and spent the next three full seasons at the helm of the program, before requesting a leave of absence six games into her fourth season.

“I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Taylor University community since the summer of 2013,” said Packard. “Taylor is truly a special place and my family and I have been embraced from the very beginning. We have felt the Taylor community pull alongside us in so many ways during my time on campus. For that, I am humbly grateful. As I evaluated the current needs of the program and considered my personal journey, it became clear that now is not the right timeline for my return to Taylor University.”

The Trojans finished the 2016-2017 campaign with a record of 13-18 and went 8-10 within the Crossroads League, finishing the season under the guidance of interim head coach Becca Bornhorst. TU will graduate only one senior from that squad and is set to bring back all five starters among 13 returners for the 2017-2018 year.

A national search for the 20th head coach in the history of the Taylor University women’s basketball program will begin immediately.

http://athletics.taylor.edu/article/8701.php

Photo Courtesy TU Athletics

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