West Georgia is moving up from NCAA Division II to the FCS in 2024 and they will have a new coach with previous FCS experience. The Wolves hired Mercer defensive coordinator Joel Taylor to lead the program on Saturday.
Taylor has been the defensive coordinator for Mercer since 2020 when he joined the Bears from Lenoir-Rhyne alongside current head coach Drew Cronic. The Mercer defense went from one of the worst in the FCS in 2019 to the top third of the subdivision in Taylor’s first season. Mercer reached the FCS Playoffs for the first time in 2023, winning the opening-round game against Gardner-Webb 17-7 before losing 41-0 to the top-seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Taylor was previously the defensive backs coach for The Citadel from 2014 through 2018 and had two different stops at South Carolina State (2005 – 2008 and 2010 – 2013) as the defensive backs coach. Taylor will take over for David Dean who resigned in November after 6 years with West Georgia. He went 48-20 overall and made three Division II Playoff appearances.
Photo Credit to Mercer University Athletics
