Mt. Vernon Athletics is excited to reintroduce a familiar face in a new and expanded way as Coach Kaitlin Taylor continues to serve our student-athletes and programs. Coach Taylor will return to the volleyball program as an assistant coach under Head Coach Megan DeVault, while also joining Head Girls Basketball Coach Rocky Alderman’s staff as an assistant coach. In both roles, Coach Taylor brings energy, experience, and a strong heart for helping young athletes grow on and off the court. A native of Linwood, Pennsylvania, Coach Taylor attended Carlisle County High School in Bardwell, Kentucky, where she became a standout multi-sport athlete. She began playing basketball in middle school and quickly developed a love for the game, becoming an impact player during her final two years of high school. She later added volleyball as a sophomore, after a coach recognized her athletic ability while watching her play basketball. Coach Taylor went on to compete collegiately in volleyball at Missouri Baptist University. Her athletic background includes numerous honors in both sports, including all-district recognition in basketball and volleyball, all-region and all-tournament honors in volleyball, district championships, and recognition for rebounding, improvement, and field goal percentage in basketball. For Coach Taylor, coaching is about much more than practices and games. “I chose to be a coach because in high school and college, my coaches never gave up on me,” Taylor said. “Sports had an important impact on my academics and social life. Coaching allows me to love on my players like they’re my own. I want to be the coach kids can feel safe with, while still enjoying being competitive.” Coach Taylor said Mt. Vernon has become home because of the people and the support she has felt since joining the school district. “Being an outsider, I had no idea what Mt. Vernon would be like,” Taylor said. “When I started working in the school district, I was shown nothing but love and support. Mt. Vernon has given me friends who have turned into family, and I am forever thankful.” As she steps into these roles, Coach Taylor hopes to continue building trust with student-athletes while helping them understand what it means to be students first, athletes second, and competitors who continue to push themselves. “I want athletes to trust me,” Taylor said. “To do better, you have to work harder in the classroom and on the gym floor. You can’t get better if you don’t try. When you have people in your corner pushing you to get better, you can be better.” Coach Taylor also hopes to bring her “light” to those around her by being one of the biggest supporters of the student-athletes she coaches — not only in sports, but in school, graduation, jobs, and life. Mt. Vernon Athletics is grateful to have Coach Taylor continuing to invest in our Wildcats, and we are excited to see the impact she will make alongside Coach DeVault, Coach Alderman, and both programs. Welcome back and congratulations, Coach Taylor!