Central Michigan University Athletics
Hall of Fame Profile: Bill Taylor
10/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | MTF
Former Central Michigan University coach Walt Drenth knew all about Bill Taylor’s abilities. After all, Drenth was an assistant coach at Charlevoix High School when Taylor starred there in the early 1980s.
So, it was no surprise that when Taylor and teammate Geoff Goolsby were placed in the unseeded 5000m race at the 1989 Penn Relays, Drenth sought out the meet officials.
“I had to beg and plead with the meet director to put those two guys in the fast race. They deserved to be there,” Drenth said. “He kept saying they didn’t but I badgered him and badgered him. Finally, he put them in but gave me the ultimatum that they better not screw it up.’”
Well, they didn’t. Taylor finished third, turning in a school-record time of 13:48.71, and Goolsby was seventh in what was the nation’s top 5000m race before nationals.
“The meet official turned to me after the finish, nodded and said, you were right,’” Drenth recalled.
Taylor finished his career as one of the top distance runners in CMU history, earning All-America honors in the 5000m with a 10th-place finish at the 1989 NCAA Championships. The 1989 MAC 5000m champion still holds the school record in the event with a mark of 13:48.50.
According to Drenth, Taylor was a better cross country runner. He won the 1988 Mid-American Conference individual title while leading the Chippewas to the team championship. He also finished third as a junior to earn first team All-MAC honors. In 1988, Taylor won every meet he ran in, except for the NCAA Championships where CMU placed 19th overall.
Following his collegiate career, Bill competed nationally for five years, posting four top 15 finishes at the U.S. Cross Country Championships. He also represented Team USA at the World Championships three times. Taylor was ranked in the top five nationally and in the top 50 in the world.
Taylor also excelled on the track at an elite level, qualifying for the 10,000m finals at both the 1989 and ’90 U.S. Track and Field Championships and 5000m finals at the 1992 Olympic Trials.
“Bill was a really driven athlete,” Drenth said. “As a distance runner, you have to invest a lot of time into your craft. He was willing to do that, and raise the bar even higher. There’s no question he was the reason the CMU program took off. We had a special group of guys and he was the leader.”
For his efforts on the track and the course, Taylor is being inducted into the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 12, in a ceremony at the Comfort Inn Conference Center. He will also be honored at halftime of the CMU-Army football game on Saturday.
Also being inducted this weekend as the Class of 2007 are Leonard Drake (men’s basketball; 1974-77), Brock Gutierrez (football; 1992-95), Angie (Henderson) Montroy (volleyball; 1982-85), Dick Kirchner (wrestling coach; 1957-64), and Betsy Yonkman (women’s basketball; 1983-86).
Tickets for the 2007 induction banquet are still available at a cost of $40 each. To purchase tickets, call the CMU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-888-FIRE-UP2.
So, it was no surprise that when Taylor and teammate Geoff Goolsby were placed in the unseeded 5000m race at the 1989 Penn Relays, Drenth sought out the meet officials.
“I had to beg and plead with the meet director to put those two guys in the fast race. They deserved to be there,” Drenth said. “He kept saying they didn’t but I badgered him and badgered him. Finally, he put them in but gave me the ultimatum that they better not screw it up.’”
Well, they didn’t. Taylor finished third, turning in a school-record time of 13:48.71, and Goolsby was seventh in what was the nation’s top 5000m race before nationals.
“The meet official turned to me after the finish, nodded and said, you were right,’” Drenth recalled.
Taylor finished his career as one of the top distance runners in CMU history, earning All-America honors in the 5000m with a 10th-place finish at the 1989 NCAA Championships. The 1989 MAC 5000m champion still holds the school record in the event with a mark of 13:48.50.
According to Drenth, Taylor was a better cross country runner. He won the 1988 Mid-American Conference individual title while leading the Chippewas to the team championship. He also finished third as a junior to earn first team All-MAC honors. In 1988, Taylor won every meet he ran in, except for the NCAA Championships where CMU placed 19th overall.
Following his collegiate career, Bill competed nationally for five years, posting four top 15 finishes at the U.S. Cross Country Championships. He also represented Team USA at the World Championships three times. Taylor was ranked in the top five nationally and in the top 50 in the world.
Taylor also excelled on the track at an elite level, qualifying for the 10,000m finals at both the 1989 and ’90 U.S. Track and Field Championships and 5000m finals at the 1992 Olympic Trials.
“Bill was a really driven athlete,” Drenth said. “As a distance runner, you have to invest a lot of time into your craft. He was willing to do that, and raise the bar even higher. There’s no question he was the reason the CMU program took off. We had a special group of guys and he was the leader.”
For his efforts on the track and the course, Taylor is being inducted into the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 12, in a ceremony at the Comfort Inn Conference Center. He will also be honored at halftime of the CMU-Army football game on Saturday.
Also being inducted this weekend as the Class of 2007 are Leonard Drake (men’s basketball; 1974-77), Brock Gutierrez (football; 1992-95), Angie (Henderson) Montroy (volleyball; 1982-85), Dick Kirchner (wrestling coach; 1957-64), and Betsy Yonkman (women’s basketball; 1983-86).
Tickets for the 2007 induction banquet are still available at a cost of $40 each. To purchase tickets, call the CMU Athletic Ticket Office at 1-888-FIRE-UP2.
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