Lehigh University men's basketball head coach Billy Taylor will take over as head coach at Ball State University, a Ball State University press release confirmed late Tuesday night.
"It was clear that Billy Taylor wanted to be the head coach at Ball State University," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Collins said in the release. "He cares about the student athletes and is a proven winner."
Taylor will be formally announced as head coach at an 11 a.m. press conference at Worthen Arena on Wednesday. Taylor will replace former coach Ronny Thompson, who resigned from the the position July 12. Director of Communications Chris Taylor said Billy Taylor will be in attendance along with his family, President Jo Ann Gora and Collins.
Billy Taylor's arrival at Ball State leaves a void in the Lehigh program approximately two months before practices will begin.
"Unfortunately, I think the timing is less than ideal," Lehigh Goodman Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett said in a Lehigh press release. "I hope this move turns out to be the right one for Billy."
The announcement will come one day after it appeared IUPUI's coach Ron Hunter would take the position. IUPUI announced in a press release that Hunter had taken his name out of the search Tuesday morning.
Billy Taylor joined Lehigh University in 2002 and led the program to its first post-season appearance in school history when the team won the Patriot League in 2004. He also led the program to its second-ever 20-win season.
"This was a very difficult decision because of the strong feelings I have for the student athletes in the program, the members of the Lehigh Athletics Department and other university personnel who have made this such a wonderful experience for me and my family," Billy Taylor said in the Lehigh press release.
Billy Taylor graduated from West Aurora High School in Illinois, which is located in Collins' home town. He was recruited by Digger Phelps and played for four seasons at Notre Dame University. Billy Taylor also served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame and UNC-Greensboro before becoming head coach at Lehigh.
He will be the 18th head coach in school history and inherits a program that amassed a 9-22 record last season, which is the school single-season record for losses.
Continue checking bsudailynews.com for updates on the new men's basketball coach.
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