Taylor Named Women’s Basketball Coach

STONE RIDGE – Jaleel Taylor has been named the new Women’s Basketball Coach at SUNY Ulster. Taylor brings twelve years of coaching experience from all levels. A native of Hillside, NJ, Taylor graduated from Elizabeth High School in 2009, while being a standout three sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. After high school, Taylor went on to the University of New Haven to play football.

“First, I’d like to thank God who made all of this possible and huge thank you to President Dr. Alison Buckley and Athletic Director Matthew Brennie for the opportunity to be the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at SUNY Ulster,” said Taylor. “I’m excited to get started and build this program up to where it needs to be.”

After his career at the University of New Haven, Taylor had a stint with the Philadelphia Eagles and played three years of professional arena football with various teams such as the Philadelphia Soul, Richmond Raiders, ASI Panthers and San Angelo Bandits.

Taylor began his coaching career in 2011 at the age of nineteen where he started his on grassroots AAU basketball team “The Jersey Heat Family Elite” for the youth in his community. For the last eleven years, Taylor has helped over 65 student athletes receive academic and athletic scholarships through his program. His most notable players are (Myles Powell-NBA, Kamil Brown-Harlem Globetrotter, Kyle Lofton- UF, Luther Muhammad- Arizona State & Damon Lynn- Overseas).

Taylor retired from arena football in 2016 and decided to go back to his hometown in Hillside where he became a varsity offensive line football coach, as well as the girl’s assistant varsity basketball coach at Hillside High School. In 2019, Taylor was named the head varsity girls basketball coach. In his first year, the team won their conference which hadn’t been done since 2012. Taylor and his team hold the longest in-season winning streak of fifteen games.

After a short two years as the head coach at the high school level, Taylor received an offer to become the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at New Jersey City University. Taylor assisted the head coach and was a part of the teams 2021 NJAC Championship run, which was the first time in women’s basketball history at NJCU.

Taylor finished his degree in Communications at Kean University in 2014. In 2020, Taylor obtained certification in Religious Literacy: Traditions and Scriptures from Harvard University. Taylor continues to train and do skill development for the youth in his community. He currently resides in Hillside, NJ with his fiancé Catherine and their two children, seven year old Nathan and two year old Tristan.

“I’m excited to see Jaleel take over the program at this time he has a lot of great ideas that he could bring to SUNY Ulster and our student athletes,” said Director of Athletics Matt Brennie.