ASU head coach Herb Sendek’s already large coaching tree is now expanding. Cal State Fullerton will name Arizona State assistant Dedrique Taylor as its next head coach according to ESPN.com reports.
Taylor joined the Sun Devils in 2006, the same time ASU hired Herb Sendek. The Sun Devils went 120-109 during Taylor’s time at ASU. He will become the ninth assistant coach under Herb Sendek to become head coach at another division one basketball program.
The ASU basketball program has been a roller coaster during Taylor’s stay in Tempe. The Sun Devils only garnered eight wins in Taylor’s first year but saw tremendous success with the addition of James Harden. ASU then fell off once again before Jahii Carson arrived on campus, and that story is unfinished.
Taylor returns to the California university system as he played at Kings River Community College and then Armstrong State before earning his bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Davis in 1997. He then played two years in Europe and worked as a sports agent before becoming assistant coach at UC Davis from 2000-2001.
Taylor moved to an assistant position at Loyola Marymount the following year before heading up to Portland State from 2002-2004. From 2004-2006 he was part of the Nevada Wolfpack staff that saw teams make it to the NCAA Tournament all three years during his tenure.
Taylor replaces interim head coach Andy Newman at Cal State Fullerton. Newman replaced Bob Burton last season. Taylor inherits a Titans team that went 14-18 (6-12) and lost their last five games of the season including a loss in the first round of the Big West tournament to Long Beach State.
It is unclear of any candidates to replace Taylor at ASU, who was named recruiting coordinator after the departure of Scott Pera to University of Pennsylvania last August. Eric Musselman and Larry Greer, who were brought in last year to assist Sendek, remain with the program.
