McKenzie Alum Jay Taylor Returns to Coach Middle School Football

McKenzie High School alum and lifelong McKenzie resident Jay Taylor takes the reins of McKenzie Middle School football this fall.

Taylor graduated from MHS in 2003 and from UT Martin in 2007.

He began his two decades of teaching and coaching with a year at Dyer County before returning at his alma mater for five years. He then coached at Southside High School for two years before a ten-year tenure at Peabody. Most recently, he was at West Carroll High School for the current school year.

Taylor coached football at each school as well as baseball at Dyer County and softball at Peabody.

At MMS, he will teach STEM for grades five through eight.

Taylor's wife of 14 years, Megan, is a third grade teacher at McKenzie Elementary School. They have a 9-year-old son, Tipton.

Coach Taylor told The Banner, "I'm excited. I've been investing in a lot of other people and other communities, and now I have an opportunity to invest in my own."

He noted that he has a niece and nephew at MMS, and his son will be coming up soon.

Taylor said he hopes to help the football program succeed at a high level. "I want to make [MHS football] Coach [Keith] Hodge look smart. I've been at the high school level so long, I know what freshmen struggle with. I hope I can get them ahead of the curve."

He said he wants to develop athletes with work in the weight room and on speed, hoping to see ripple effects into other sports.

Taylor added, "Being able to coach little league and flag football, getting to know those kids, that's what I'm really excited about."

He will participate in MMS football spring practice as much as his schedule allows to get a head start on acclimating to the program.