CSU Stanislaus President Hamid Shirvani said, “I am pleased that my personal commitment to reach out and find nationally recognized, winning coaches has resulted in the appointment of a coach who will undoubtedly raise the bar for our Athletics program. Warrior soccer fans and players can rest assured that Dana Taylor’s enthusiasm and passion for the program will bring a new level of excitement to the team and the community. I am especially confident that Dana’s focus as a coach will translate into winning teams on the field as well as in the classroom.”
Athletics Director Richards said, “We are very excited about bringing a Pac-10 coach to our men’s soccer program, especially one of Dana’s caliber with such a dynamic record of achievements.”
In his 10 seasons as Oregon State head coach, Taylor directed the Beavers soccer team to a pair of post-season appearances in the highly competitive Pac-10 Conference and Top 10 rankings in the nation. His 2002 team won a school record 13 games in making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and he was named Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year. Taylor directed Oregon State to the NCAA Men’s College Cup and another 13-win season for the second straight year in 2003.
In addition to striving to put a quality team on the pitch, Taylor’s coaching style emphasizes the importance of academics, service to the community, and promotion of personal character. He established a number of support programs for men’s soccer and procured substantial apparel and stadium lighting donations at Oregon State.
Prior to becoming Oregon State’s head coach, Taylor was an assistant coach at Creighton University in Nebraska. That team made two Final Four NCAA Division I Tournament appearances.
A four-year starter and two-time All-New England soccer player at the United College of Barrington-Gordon where he earned his college degree, Taylor served as a youth soccer coach early in his career. He was the Nebraska State Soccer Association’s Director of Coaching and Player Development from 1993-95, overseeing more than 25,000 players.