AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's University Associate Vice President for Athletics Debbie Taylor announces her retirement at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, wrapping up an accomplished career that spanned 34 years at the Hilltop, including 22 as athletic director.
"Thank you, Debbie, for your dedication and hard work to foster a vibrant and competitive athletics program," St. Edward's University President Montserrat Fuentes says. "This is an exciting time for St. Edward's University, and we have a firm foundation in place to advance Athletics as a critical element of the university's strategic plan. She leaves with an accomplished career, and we wish her the very best!"
As director of athletics, she served in numerous leadership roles across conference and NCAA committees and workgroups over the years. She was a member of the NCAA Management Council, NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement Committee, NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, the NCAA Division II Task Force for Issues Dealing with Diversity, and the NCAA Minority Opportunity Grant Subcommittee. She also served on the NCAA Men's Basketball Regional Ranking Committee.
St. Edward's welcomed Taylor as the head volleyball coach and director of intramurals in 1990 after a Hall of Fame collegiate volleyball career at Southwestern University. She continued her education, receiving her master's from Southwest Texas State University in 1992. She was a faculty member from 1992 through 1995 when she joined the athletics administration to establish the compliance office.
In 12 seasons running the volleyball program, Taylor posted a 428-167 record and is the program's all-time career lead in wins and win percentage. Taylor coached five conference Most Valuable Players, seven conference Freshmen of the Year, 49 All-Conference players, 67 Academic All-Conference players, 12 All-Americans, and 11 Scholar All-Americans.
She served seven years as an AVCA officer, including president in 1998. She was the Chair of the NAIA Volleyball Scholar All-America Committee from 1994-1996, Chair of the NAIA Volleyball Hall of Fame Committee from 1996-1998, and Chair of the NAIA Southwest Regional Volleyball Committee from 1994-1998.
Taylor also served on the Lone Star Region of USA Volleyball board of directors from 1994-1998, USA Volleyball Rules of the Game Committee from 1996-1998, NAIA Southwest Region Athletic Coordinating Committee from 1994-1998, chair of the NAIA District IV Volleyball Coaches Committee from 1992-1994, the NAIA District IV Executive Committee from 1991-1994, and chair of the Heart of Texas Volleyball Committee from 1991-1996.
She was recognized for meritorious service by the United States Association of Volleyball in 1995 and served the state of Texas as an Impact Coach Certified Instructor.
The Heart of Texas Conference named her its 1990 Coach of the Year, and her teams earned three Heart of Texas Conference Championships, winning in 1991, 1996, and 1997. She led the team to the Heartland Conference championship in 2001 and was named its Coach of the Year. She led the Hilltoppers to four NAIA National Tournament appearances, including two NAIA Elite Eight appearances.
Taylor earned the 1993 NAIA District IV Female Administrator of the Year and 1997 NAIA Southwest Region Administrator of the Year. St. Edward's named Taylor an associate athletic director in 1999. When the university transitioned from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, Taylor was an integral part of the creation and growth of the Heartland Conference, for which it inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 2018.
As director of athletics, Taylor has overseen the expansion of the University's athletic programs, increasing staff positions to include sports information directors, adding assistant coaches for team sports, bolstering the athletic training program, and support staff.
Her impact on the athletic department also includes the addition of men's and women's cross country, Esports, varsity cheerleading, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, and stunt.
Since taking over as athletic director, St. Edward's has claimed 72 conference championships, 89 NCAA Postseason appearances, 79 All-Americans, 51 Academic All-Americans, 71 Coach of the Year honors, and three top-three NCAA finishes. The Hilltopper athletic department has consistently received the NCAA DII President's Award for Academic Excellence.
"I have been blessed to serve in multiple capacities in my 34 years on the Hilltop. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as athletics director for the last 22 years and work alongside some of the most talented and dedicated staff members, coaches, and student-athletes," Taylor says. "I'm extremely proud of the success they achieved athletically, in the classrooms, and beyond the Hilltop. They've been an inspiration to me each and every day."
A national search for the next Director of Athletics will begin immediately. Taylor will remain in her role until July 31.
