Taylor

newjerseydevils.com – Tim Taylor, head coach of the 1994 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and former head men’s ice hockey coach at Yale University, has been named an assistant coach for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program it was announced today.

Taylor, who spent the 2006-07 season as an amateur scout for the Devils, replaces Patrick Foley. He will join forces with head coach John Hynes in guiding the U.S. National Under-18 Team within the NTDP in 2007-08.

“Tim Taylor is one of the most respected American coaches of our time,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “He is a terrific teacher of the game and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him join our staff.”

Taylor has a long history with USA Hockey as a veteran of two Olympic Winter Games. In 1984, he was both the assistant general manager and assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Sarajevo. Taylor then served as head coach for Team USA in 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway. He also led the United States to its best finish at a Canada Cup when the team captured second place at the event in 1991.

Taylor stood at the helm of the U.S. Men’s National Team at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship four straight years (1989-1992). He also served as an assistant coach for the team at the 1981 and 1983 events.

“I couldn’t be happier to join such a wonderful program,” said Taylor. “I am excited to help the young men of the National Team Development Program become better hockey players, and teach them things that they will carry with them both on and off the ice throughout their lives. It will be a thrill for me to work with such motivated athletes and also a great coaching staff.”

Taylor’s coaching resume includes a historic 28-year run (1976-83/1984-93/1994-2006) as the head coach of Yale University’s men’s ice hockey team. He coached more games than anyone else in the history of the ECAC Hockey League and led the Bulldogs to six Ivy League titles and 19 ECACHL playoff appearances. He earned the ECAC Coach of the Year Award on three occasions (1987, 1992, 1998).

The 1997-98 season, one in which he was honored with the Spencer Penrose Award as the NCAA Division I Coach of the Year, included a school-record 23 wins, Yale’s first conference crown and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

“Coach Taylor will be a huge asset to the National Team Development Program,” said Scott Monaghan, director of operations for the NTDP. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that everyone associated with the NTDP will greatly benefit from.”

As a player, Taylor competed for Harvard University (1959-63). He captained the Crimson team that won the Ivy League and ECAC Championship in 1963 and posted 46 goals and 33 assists for 79 points in 68 career games. In addition he played on the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1965.

In the last two years, Taylor has won two of USA Hockey’s most prestigious awards. In 2006, he received USA Hockey’s Distinguished Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to the sport of ice hockey in the United States. Taylor also won the Walter Yaciuk Award in 2007 for his contributions to USA Hockey’s Coaching Education Program during many years of service as a volunteer.