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CAVALIER SPORTS Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about Well the names have all changed since you hung around But those dreams have remained and they've turned around Who'd have thought they'd lead ya Back here where we need ya John Sebastian, Welcome Back (1976) When Tim Taylor was a young boy, "Welcome Back, Kotter" was a popular sitcom about a teacher who returns to his alma mater to teach a group of struggling students nicknamed Sweathogs. Taylor worked on Hall of Famer Debbie Ryan's staff from 2000-05, serving as the recruiting coordinator, and re- turned in 2009-11 as the associate head coach. In his time at Virginia, Taylor was recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the country. During his tenures, the Cavaliers made five NCAA Tournament appearances and signed back-to-back top-15 recruiting classes. Posting an overall record of just barely over .500 (65-61) and a sub-.500 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play (27-39) over the last four seasons, it's clear the names have changed but those dreams have remained unfulfilled, and Taylor is back where he was needed at UVA. "I've always been a Virginia fan," Taylor said. "It's exciting and I think we've got a great group of kids. You get excited about Virginia basketball, and I'm excited to work with this staff and these kids to see what we can do help them get better on and off the court." Taylor has been serving as the principal at William Wetsel Middle School in Madison, Va., but after forgoing other offers to return to the game since 2012, it was the call from Joanne Boyle that he couldn't resist. "I was not looking to get back in," he said. "I was in a really good situation, and over the last four years I've had oppor- tunities to get back in but it didn't seem like the right time." But when Boyle called things changed. "I had a lot of conversations with Joanne, Debbie [Ryan], talked to Ronnie Sanchez a little, and based on those con- versations I felt like I could help the program and that's what drew me back. I've been welcomed back with open arms and that's a real blessing." Boyle says she was aware of Taylor back from her days as an assistant in Durham. "I've known him since I was an assistant at Duke, so I've known him a long time," Boyle said. "He's an involved re- cruiter, he loves it, he's one of those guys that if there was 26 hours in a day, he's using it. He just figures it out." Like Kotter's Sweathogs, the players have quickly embraced Taylor. "This man knows what he's talking about," third-year Lauren Moses said. "He loves all aspects of basketball, and he's willing to push us to our limits. He's amazing." "Everything he says and everything that he comes at us with in basketball is a microcosm of life and he puts things in perspective big time," third-year guard Aliyah Huland El added. "I really love him." Asked why the players have so quickly taken to his coaching style, Taylor offers some common sense reflection. "I've been doing this long enough where I don't think there's going to be a whole lot that's going to surprise me," Taylor said. "I think I do a good job developing kids and developing a good rapport with players, helping to hold them accountable yet they still know I care." — Greg Waters DECEMBER 2016 ◆ 9 BEHIND THE SCENES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH TIM TAYLOR Taylor coached at Virginia from 2000-05 and 2009-11 before returning to the Cav- aliers' coaching staff in June. PHOTO COURTESY UVA