Story Courtesy: Brandon Collins, Athletics Communications
Texas A&M women’s basketball and head coach Joni Taylor announced the addition of 13-year NCAA and WNBA coaching veteran and recent Connecticut Sun front office member Darius Taylor as Chief of Basketball Strategy and Roster Management.
“I am thrilled to have Darius officially join our staff and return to coaching with our program,” Joni Taylor said. “His experience in the WNBA, college and with USA Basketball make him a perfect fit for our team as collegiate athletics and our sport continue to change and evolve. He has brought success to every stop in his career, and he makes us better immediately. We had many conversations this offseason on if this was the right time for our family. After a lot of time and looking at this from different angles, we both felt like this was what was best for our family and our program. Darius is one of the most well-respected basketball minds in the country and I could not be happier to share the sideline with him.”
Taylor spent the last three years with the Connecticut Sun where he served as the chief basketball strategist and director of scouting (2024-25) and general manager (2022-2024). During his time with the franchise, the team finished second in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the semifinals in 2023 and 2024.
“I’m incredibly thankful for my time in the WNBA with both the Atlanta Dream and the Connecticut Sun,” Darius Taylor said. “Serving as a coach and in the front office has been an honor, and I’m deeply grateful for the experiences and relationships I’ve built along the way. Stepping away from the front office wasn’t an easy decision but joining Joni and the Texas A&M women’s basketball program is a unique and meaningful next step for our family. This move is about shared purpose, family, and continuing to grow the game we both love—together. We’re passionate about developing student-athletes on and off the court, and I’m excited to help build something special here in Aggieland.”
Prior to his time with the Sun, he was a part of the Atlanta Dream franchise in a number of roles from 2017-21. As an assistant coach for the Dream, Taylor helped the team advance to the conference finals of the 2018 playoffs. He also tutored Aggie great and former All-American Chennedy Carter to an All-Rookie Team selection. During the 2021 campaign, Taylor was elevated to interim head coach midway through the season and at the conclusion of the year transitioned to assistant general manager.
As assistant GM, Taylor and the Dream drafted Ryhne Howard with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and she was later named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. Howard received 53-of-56 possible votes and was also an All-Star Game selection.
Before his time in Atlanta, Taylor served as an advisor for AthLife, Inc. (2015-17), an organization specializing in providing career and education services for professional and post-professional athletes.
The Chicago native spent nine years on the bench as an assistant coach under Naismith Hall of Famer Dawn Staley at Temple (2004-08) and South Carolina (2010-15). At Temple, he helped the Owls to consecutive Atlantic 10 Tournament titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances. He worked closely with Candice Dupree who ended her collegiate career with AP All-America honors in addition to being named A-10 Player of the Year and A-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Dupree was the sixth pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft.
With the Gamecocks, Taylor helped lay the foundation for what the program is today. He coached back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Year honorees in Alaina Coates (2013-14) and A’ja Wilson (2014-15). In his final season at South Carolina, the team finished the year ranked No. 3 overall, the highest finish in program history at the time, won its first SEC Tournament title and reached the Final Four for the first time in program history.
Taylor also spent a pair of two-year stints with the NBA Developmental League (2008-10) and USA Basketball (2002-04). With the NBADL he promoted personal, professional and social development in the league’s players. He devised a comprehensive program that educated players about nutritional health, money management and career development.
At USA Basketball, Taylor was an assistant director of competitive programs, and he cut his teeth in coaching as a team leader at the Chicago Bulls Basketball Schools from 2000-02.
Taylor was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan where he was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and received his bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications in 2000.
Darius Taylor is the husband of head coach Joni Taylor. The two were married in 2015 and have two daughters, Jacie and Drew.
Career Resume
2000-02: Team Leader, Chicago Bulls Basketball Schools
2002-04: Assistant Director of Competitive Programs, USA Basketball
2004-08: Assistant Coach, Temple
2008-10: Manager of Community and Player Programs, NBADL
2010-15: Assistant Coach, South Carolina
2015-17: Advisor, AthLife, Inc.
2017-21: Assistant Coach, Atlanta Dream
2021: Interim Head Coach, Atlanta Dream
2021-22: Assistant General Manager, Atlanta Dream
2022-24: General Manager, Connecticut Sun
2024-25: Chief Basketball Strategist and Director of Scouting, Connecticut Sun
