Valparaiso University men’s basketball head coach Roger Powell Jr. has announced the hiring of Sean Taylor as the program’s Video Coordinator/Director of Basketball Operations.

In addition, Quintin Garrison has been elevated to Special Assistant to the Head Coach.

Taylor joins Valpo’s staff after serving as SIUE’s graduate assistant/video coordinator from August 2021 to May 2023. He handled all video responsibilities and assisted with team travel and operations duties.

“I’m super excited about adding Sean to our staff,” Powell said. “He brings a ton of experience in film. He has a hard-working mindset. He’s a grinder, and he’s going to be great in terms of serving our student-athletes. He’s local and he’s a coach’s son, which has helped him gain experience. He knows what it takes to win.”

Prior to his tenure at SIUE, Taylor served as a student manager at Marquette from September 2018 to April 2021. Before his time at Marquette, Taylor spent the 2017-18 season as a men’s basketball student-athlete at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.

“I was finishing up as a graduate assistant and was looking for my next step when I met Coach Powell at the Romeoville Shootout,” Taylor said. “This being a first-year staff is really cool to come in where we’re going to start from the beginning and try to build this up as opposed to joining a staff that is already in Year 3 or 4. Getting that fresh start and everyone being on the same page from the beginning made this appealing.”

Taylor is a native of Homewood, Ill. and a product of Marian Catholic High School. His father Mike Taylor spent 20 years as the head boys basketball coach at Marian Catholic, where he compiled 357 career wins, nine regional titles, three sectional championships and five conference crowns.

Taylor graduated from Marquette in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies before going on to earn his master’s in applied communication studies from SIUE in May 2023.

“I’m excited about working for Roger,” Taylor said. “He is a person who knows what he wants. He’s going to let you do your job and trust you with it. He said, ‘Be a star in your role, and your role can expand from there to make you a star in other areas as well.’ He’s got a great demeanor and I think the players are going to play hard for him.”

What They’re Saying About Sean Taylor

Brian Barone, SIUE Head Coach: “Sean is somebody who will give everything he has to the program he is part of. In this business, it is a luxury to have somebody who thinks of the team first and himself last. We had the most wins in school history with Sean as part of my staff. He was heavily influential in our process, and I expect him to be the same for Roger at Valpo.”

Dwayne Killings, Albany Head Coach: “I am super excited to see Sean join the staff at Valpo. He is a tireless, dedicated and loyal worker. The staff, players and community will love the heart and effort that Coach Taylor puts into the program.”

Terrance McGee, Wabash Valley College Head Coach: “Sean is a pure joy to work with; as someone so young, he has a good eye for talent, is a hard worker and is dedicated to his craft. Whenever Sean is needed, he will go above and beyond the call of duty. Coming from a family of good coaches, Sean is next in line to carry the torch. Most important, Sean is an awesome person.”

Rob Judson, Illinois State Assistant Coach: “Congratulations to Sean Taylor on his new position and congrats to Coach Powell and Beacon Basketball for hiring a terrific young coach. Sean is a high-energy person with a fantastic feel for the game. He will no doubt add great value to Valpo basketball.”