It was business as usual on the pool deck, early Monday morning, with GWC Coach Scott Taylor working with his water polo players. Little did Taylor know the group of well-wishers bearing balloons and smiles were there to congratulate him for being voted 2018 Teacher of the Year!
Each year, Golden West students are asked to nominate their favorite faculty members for Teacher of the Year. Student leaders review the nominations and forward names to a campus-wide committee that selects a winner.
Coach Taylor is a true Rustler, having attended and competed at Golden West before continuing his education and playing career at UC Santa Barbara earning his BA in Geography and MA in Sports Management. Scott’s coaching record (474-31-0), a career winning percentage of 94%, is unparalleled having coached the Men’s Water Polo program to a total of eight California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Titles, 15 Regional Championships and 16 OEC Conference Championships (2002-2017). The Rustler Water Polo team was unstoppable the past two years with a record of 32-0. Taylor’s coaching record is just as impressive in Men’s Swimming with the Rustler’s earning five CCCCAA State Titles and six Orange Empire Conference Championships under his tutelage.
Coach Taylor’s award marks the first time a professor from Golden West’s Physical Education/Kinesiology Department has been selected as Teacher of the Year. It is a testament to Scott that he is recognized by students, athletes and colleagues as a teacher who emphasizes excellence in academics as well as in athletics. Professor Taylor stresses personal responsibility and self-motivation to his students and is himself an example of discipline and hard work. He is known to students as someone who truly listens and the teacher who is eager to improve.
Congratulations to our outstanding 2018 Teacher of the Year Scott Taylor!
