March 27, 2006
Yale Relieves Taylor of Coaching Duties

Yale has relieved Tim Taylor of his head coaching duties, ending the legendary coach's 28-year tenure behind the Bulldogs' bench.

“Tim Taylor has been an exceptional coach, mentor and ambassador of Yale hockey as well as all of amateur hockey for 30 years," said athletic director Tom Beckett in a statement from the school. "We are extremely respectful and appreciative of his service to Yale and his dedication and loyalty to the men of Yale hockey. We believe, however, that now is the time to provide new leadership for the next generation of student-athletes in this program.”

Yale will offer Taylor reassignment within the athletic department. No announcement was made regarding the search for a successor.

Taylor’s 28th and final Yale season ended with a 10-20-3 record and an ECAC Hockey League quarterfinal playoff loss at Dartmouth on March 11. The Bulldogs finished 11th in the conference this year and have had only one winning season since 1997-98.

Taylor's record with the Bulldogs finished at 337-433-55. He coached all six of the school’s Hobey Baker Award finalists and is in his 30th year at the school. He took two leaves of absence to coach U.S. Olympic Teams.

Taylor, who coached more games (825) than anyone in the history of the ECAC Hockey League, has more victories than any Yale hockey mentor. His tenure at Ingalls Rink included one conference title, 19 ECACHL playoff appearances and a pair of 20-win seasons. Taylor was the national coach of the year in 1997-98 when the Bulldogs captured the conference regular-season title and played in the NCAA Tournament. He has been conference coach of the year three times and has also won six Ivy League championships.

Taylor’s last victory, a 3-2 win over Union on March 4, happened to be the longest (141:35) game in the history of NCAA men’s hockey. That win sealed the two-game sweep in the first round of the conference playoffs and sent the Elis into the quarterfinals against ECACHL regular-season champion Dartmouth.