Johnny Taylor

It is with great pleasure that we present Coach Johnny Taylor with the 2013 ASCO Football Classic Sherwood Award. Coach Taylor has been a great representative of the coaching profession for 38 years.  He retired in June of 2011 after making many contributions over the years.

Beginning his coaching career in Richardson, followed by assistant coaching positions at Olton, Hereford, and Abilene, Coach Taylor became the head coach/athletic director at Idalou ISD in 1989, where he stayed until his retirement.  As head football coach at Idalou, he ended with a record of 189-65-3, taking the wildcats to the playoffs 16 times.  Of those 16 years, four times were to the third round, four times were to the fourth round, and he ended his career with a 2010 AA Division II state championship.

Coach Taylor has had many accomplishments throughout his career.  He was a THSCA director from 1995-1998; he was on the THSCA all-star selection committee in 2004; he was a Region I Tom Landry Award nominee three times; he was the Lubbock KJAK radio coach of the year in 2005 and 2008; he was the South Plains AA coach of the year in 1992, 2000, 2007, and 2010.  Coach Taylor was a co-founder and executive vice president of the ASCO West Texas Football Classic, an organization with which he continues to be involved.  This benefit football game raises money for players who have suffered injuries while playing football.  Coach Taylor has been instrumental in raising nearly $100,000 over the last eight years for this noteworthy cause.

Outside of educational contributions too numerous to name in one letter, Coach Taylor is a constant contributor to his community.  He is a great man who has been an invaluable influence to countless young people.