Ben Murphy
Sports Scene
Replacing a legend isn’t supposed to be this easy, but new Saginaw boys’ basketball head coach Julian Taylor is showing that the Trojans aren’t going anywhere, despite the departure of seven-year head coach and Saginaw High School legend Lou Dawkins.
“We’re very pleased with coach Taylor,” Saginaw athletic director Daniel Szatkowski said. “We’re glad he’s a Trojan and taking care of our basketball team. It’s been an easy transition.”
Dawkins, who is now an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University, helped the storied program reach its height during his tenure, including going 140-28 with back-to-back state titles in 2007 and 2008. He apparently left the program in good hands.
“It’s been a smooth experience,” Taylor said. “It is a different level than junior varsity; the guys are faster and stronger, but it has been fun though.”
Taylor watched the Trojans take care of business against crosstown rival Saginaw Arthur Hill January 20, beating the Lumberjacks 88-76.
“It was a smooth transition,” he said of moving up to varsity coach. “Especially since I have coached most of the guys that are on varsity right now. I knew the program and coached under Dawkins and knew some of the things he was teaching.”
Taylor played for the Trojans in 1990 and 1991 and played collegiately at Saginaw Valley State University. He has previous coaching experience as an assistant at Delta College, and he was part of Dawkins’ staff since 2006. As the junior varsity coach the last four years, Taylor went 41-4.
Though Taylor says he utilizes several of the same teaching methods as Dawkins, he does differ in some areas.
“Dawkins liked to focus mainly on getting up and down the court,” Taylor said. “I want them to be able to play half court and the full court game. I try switching up on different things, different defenses to keep the other team on their toes with different styles. I do demand a lot from them, but that’s pretty much the same. I pretty much follow his techniques, but you do have to twist the techniques to fit your style, too.”
Taylor believes the Trojans’ program is as strong as ever, and he doesn’t see that changing any time soon.
“Saginaw High has always had high standards, winning the Saginaw Valley Conference and winning state championships,” he said. “Nothing has changed in that aspect. You just want to teach the kids about life in general, be there for the kids, and try to support them and make sure they are doing the right thing. You have to do the right things off the court to be successful on the court.”