It didn't take long for Van Taylor's influence to be felt a tLander.

Beginning with his first season on the then-Senator sidelines in1985, Taylor guided the five-year-old Lander program to second place in NAIA District 6 and its second winning season(14-4-1).

Taylor, a 1975 graduate of Erskine College, received a bachelor's degree in health and physical education and earned NAIA All-District 6 and NCAA All-American honors in 1975. He wasi nducted into the Erskine Hall of Fame in 1982.

He received his master's degree in education from Lander in 1990and his Certification in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University in 2003.

In 28 seasons at Lander, Taylor has amassed an overall372-152-30 record (.698 winning percentage). The 2005 team won the NCAA Division II Southeast Region championship, while the 2001 teamfinished No. 6 in the country when it posted a 17-4 campaign and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Taylor led Lander to its first of three NAIA District 6championships in 1987 (15-4-1). The then-Senators also won District6 titles in 1990 (20-5) and 1991 (21-3-1).

In 1990, the Senators won the NAIA Area 9 championship and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament where they placed third.The Senators won the Nels Dahlquist Sportsmanship Trophy at the tournament.

Since joining the NCAA, Lander has won Peach Belt regular-seasontitles in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2010 and 2012; and PBCtournament championships in 1991, 1996 and 2009. In 1996, the Senators were ranked as high as No. 2 in the country and earned aberth in the national tournament.

Taylor was named the PBC Coach of the Year in 1991, 1995 and2012, and the NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 1995, 2001and 2005. He was voted NAIA District 6 Coach of the Year in 1985,'90 and '91, and NAIA Area 9 Coach of the Year in 1990.

In 1975, Taylor was a first-round draft choice for the New YorkC osmos of the NASL. Taylor was traded to the Miami Toros in 1976where he played for three seasons while earning runner up honors forRookie of the Year. He was later traded to the Columbus Magic of the ASL in 1979. He finished his playing career with the Phoenix Inferno of the MISL (1980-84).

As a prep at West Essex High School in North Caldwell, N.J.,Taylor was a Parade Magazine All-American and was inducted into theWest Essex Hall of Fame in 1991.

Taylor earned the Union of European Football Association (UEFA)"A" license in 1998 and added the UEFA Pro License in 2004. He alsoholds the NSCAA's Advance National Goalkeeping Diploma and PremierDiploma. A USSF "A" and National Youth licensed coach. Taylor is aU.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) staff coach and instructor and servesas a Region III staff coach for the U.S. Youth Soccer Association(USYSA).