A native of Portland, Sam Taylor returned to the Rose City to take over the Lewis & Clark crew in 2005 after spending four years coaching at the University of Puget Sound.  During the 2005-2006 year the Varsity women’s program finished 2nd at the conference championships and secured the school’s first-ever NCAA bid.  Under Sam’s coaching, the women also finished 3rd in the conference in 2007 and the men’s team won the conference championship in 2006 to back up their 2nd place finishes in 2006 and 2007.

At Puget Sound Sam guided the Logger’s women’s team to three straight NCAA Championship appearances.  In his first year at the helm of the Logger program the women’s team earned a second place finish at the NCAA Championships followed by fourth place showings in 2004 and 2005. The UPS men’s team won Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Championships in each of his three years as head coach while the women’s program earned championships in 2003 and 2004.

Sam also has extensive club experience after having spent time at Commencement Bay Rowing Club as a coach and as an Interim Executive Director. He has also held coaching positions at Lake Union Crew and at Oregon Rowing Unlimited.  He is a strong advocate of sculling and while at Lewis & Clark helped the program acquire five pair-doubles and launched a sculling course for all students.

Taylor earned a B.A. in English from the University of Puget Sound and completed the Williams-Mystic Maritime Education Program at Williams College. Taylor is also an instructor of Physical Education at the College, President of the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference, and a Steward of the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association.