Taylor led the Hampton Pirates to five black college football national championships (1994, 1997, 2004, 2005, and 2006) and eight conference titles.
He graduated from Western Illinois University in 1972 and began his coaching career at H. D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C.
[1] After two years at Virginia Union, Taylor became the defensive coordinator at Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, D.C.
In 1986, Taylor led Virginia Union to an undefeated regular season, a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
[2][3] In eight years as the head coach at Virginia Union, Taylor compiled a record of 60–19–3 for a .750 winning percentage.
In his first three years at Hampton, the school played in NCAA Division II and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
[1] In recognition of his achievement, Taylor selected as College Coach of the Year in Virginia for 1994 by the Portsmouth Sports Club.
[5][6] Taylor continued to win at the Division I-AA level and became "the most successful football coach in Hampton history.
"[7] Taylor's Hampton teams won five black college national championships (1994, 1997, 2004, 2005, and 2006), eight conference titles (three in the CIAA and five in the MEAC), the 1999 Heritage Bowl,[8] and seven trips to the NCAA playoffs.
The list include: Kendall Langford, Justin Durant, Nevin McCaskill, Alonzo Coleman, Zuriel Smith, Jerome Mathis, Marquay McDaniel, Onrea Jones, Travarous Bain, Darian Barnes, Cordell Taylor and Isaac Hilton.
[2] In November 2009, FAMU athletic director Bill Hayes praised Taylor's contributions, "He has recruited better, and he has inspired and organized the program in such a way that he has been able to maximize the talent here.
"[12] On Saturday, November 3, 2012, he announced his retirement at the end of the season to his players during their pre-game breakfast prior to that day's game against North Carolina Central.
[1] Member of the Noble Klan of Men, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, Zeta Mu chapter.