Bullard Brag
Taylor newest addition to BHS
Bobby Woodruff

Times they are a changing.

And we all want to get ready for the new football season.

Bullard High School will meet not only a new principal this next year in Scott Franks, but also we'll meet and greet our new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach James Taylor.

Taylor is a graduate of Dobie High School in Houston.

As a high school student, he participated in several sports including football, basketball and track.

After his graduation, he attended the University of Houston and was a member of the Houston Cougar football team.

His coach was Bill Yoeman, the well-known innovator of the Veer Offense. His line coach was Billy Willingham, one of the best in the business and a man who has had a lasting impression on Taylor all these years. Willingham was the man who influenced Taylor to enter into the coaching profession.

For many years the University of Houston was not considered a powerhouse because they were not in the South West Conference.

But once admitted, they were two-time champions out of three years when they were playing Texas, A&M and others.

The Houston coaches were good and treated their athletes right. They taught and coached class.

Players were worked hard and were held accountable on and off the field.

During Taylor's time at university, he met his future wife Alicia.

Alicia is the mother of his four children and, according to Taylor, the full time caretaker, driver and inspirational leader of the children even as James spends all these years on the sidelines coaching others' children.

Taylor is very proud of his children, including Allison, who is coaching in Belton at this time as the head volleyball coach.

Jenny is enrolled in the architecture school at the University of Houston. Becky is looking at going into physical therapy and she is playing Basketball at the University of Tyler. Clint, the youngest one will be in the seventh grade at Bullard Middle School.

Following graduation, Taylor began his coaching career, as most young coaches do, at the middle school level in Temple.

Taylor taught health and physical education, coached the middle school football team and track and basketball teams.

The following year Taylor made a big leap to Temple High School where he taught health and physical education.

Taylor became the assistant varsity football offensive line Coach and Head Power lifting coach.

Taylor also was the Girls Athletic Strength Coordinator and Summer Recreation Program Director for five schools.

Following his years of learning, which added to his ability, Taylor became the head offensive coordinator; off-season coordinator and head power lifting coach for Temple High School.

During these years from 1989 to 1997, Temple football had a run of outstanding athletic teams and great success.

Not only did we win football games.

But Coach Bob McQueen ran a program where we had a lot of opportunities to play in football playoff games and not only did we win but at the same time the program revolved around class and helping kids to grow up to be a positive part of the community.

"During the time at Temple we went through a time that we were 8 wins and 2 losses one year. At that time 8- 2 was not a good time," Taylor said.

"We went through about three years of bad seasons, including one year at 1-9.

"I probably learned more during that time, because I saw some one who was used to success and he found a way to twist that around and one year after that 1-9, we won the Class 5A State Championship.

"I was able to see the changes and adjustments that were necessary as we all had to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

"I was able to see what it took to build a great program. At this time in my life I had desires to become a head coach and athletic director and lead my own program. In 1997, Dublin Independent School called on Taylor to become the athletic director and head football coach.

Dublin gave Taylor the opportunity to grow as an administrator in regards to growth in the school.

Taylor not only designed and implemented a drug-testing program for all extra-curricular participants.

He also planned and designed athletic facilities for the new high school as they moved from a 2-A school up to a 3-A school.

During his time in Dublin, Taylor also worked as an assistant principal with direct responsibility over the Special Education Program. James facilitated ARD Meetings and was responsible for Special Ed. Student Discipline.

Dublin is an old town town that -- among other things -- was famous as the oldest Dr. Pepper Plant in the world.

Taylor was able to turn some things around and convince the football team to be competitive and get after it and enjoy success in the win-loss record.

In 2001, Taylor moved back to the Houston as the athletic director and head football coach of the New Caney Independent School District.

Some of his responsibilities included planning and designing athletic facilities for the school district; including full athletic facilities for two middle schools, the ninth grade center and the high school.

Taylor also served on the facilities committee for three bond projects, totaling more than $100 million.

"We took over a program that had struggled through the years and had the opportunity to get into the playoffs and played the Nederland Bulldogs in play off competition," Taylor said.

"It was a heck of a game and even though our team lost by a final score of 35 to 28, the effort by our team was a turning point for our program, because it showed us that a student's effort on the field was the difference between winning a losing.

"Dublin was a neat opportunity for me and I really enjoyed my time there," Tyalor said.

"When Bullard opened up it was exciting for several reasons," Taylor said. "We have a daughter who plays basketball for The University of Texas at Tyler."

"I also have a son starting seventh grade and class size is critical," he said. "The environment of the school helps the learning and structure of teaching kids what to do and how to do it.

"Bullard is the place to have a positive influence on students to help them be successful in life."

Taylor said he sees a new opportunity here.

"Bullard is the right place as we start a new area in our football program," he said. "We want to build a program where kids believe when they step out on the field they have a positive feeling - they can overcome anything and be successful."

Taylor said trying to guide kids in the direction that he believes that parents want.

"We attempt to treat all of our athletes like they were our own and any decisions we make will be for the best we can offer to them," he said.

The main goal, really, is completely parallel with educators and parents.

"We want to help kids, but if you aren't careful that can be a crutch," he said. "Our other goal is to teach kids how to be successful," he said. "The bottom line is that we love kids and want them to be successful - not only on the football field but also in life."

Over the years, Taylor has made presentations at the Capital of Texas Football Clinic; Oklahoma State Coaches Convention; Wichita Falls Athletic Clinic; Henry E. Franka Football Clinic; the West Texas Football Clinic; The Coastal Bend Coaches Clinic and The Toyota Coach of the Year Football Clinic.

Many awards and honors have come Taylor's way, including honors as a member of the All-District and All- Greater Houston Football High School Team; member of two S.W.C. Championship Teams while playing Football for the University of Houston; played in the Cotton Bowl Football game for two years and Coached the Regional Championship Power lifting team for two years.

As a football coach, Taylor coached on the Area Finalist Football Team in 1985; the Bi-District Football Team in 1989; and the Regional Finalist Football Team in 1991.

In 1992, Temple won the class 5A State Football Championship. Also Temple advanced to the State 5A Semi Finals in 1993.

Temple won the district Championship in 1995; was the Regional Finalist Football Team in 1996 and was Bi- District 5A football winner in 2003.