It’s like a switch. Off the court, Taylor Wagner is calm, collective and some would even say quiet…but then Coach Wagner comes out when the basketball games take place.
The eighth year head coach is one of the most animated in the entire Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, but that exuberant coaching method has produced wins.
“He gets intense and a lot of the time that’s all people see like at the games. He gets after us but it’s because he wants us to win,” junior guard Kylyn Rigsby said.
Wagner has led the Mavericks team to multiple Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournaments as well as four NCAA Tournament appearances. The Mavericks just secured their fifth RMAC Championship under Wagner and will play host to the RMAC Tournament for the second year in a row.
Wagner looks to the teams he has had over the years and looks at all of his success as theirs too. The personalities and goals that each team has to make championships each year has helped him be successful as a coach. The girls’ passion and drive makes Wagner enjoy helping them achieve those goals of winning the RMAC championship and head into the NCAA tournament.
“This year is no different each team has been different that I have had every single year and it’s been fun to see that as each team comes through they take on their own personalities as a team and has had their own goals too,” Wagner said. “You can kind of see from team to team the different levels of commitment. It has been fun to see which teams rise to the top.”
He enjoys seeing all the hard work they put into those championships by putting in extra time after practice lets out.
Off the court, Wagner isn’t as serious as he is on the court. Guard Dani Turner said that, off the court, Wagner is actually a funny guy.
On and off the court Wagner has influenced members of the Womens’ Basketball team by giving the team words of wisdom through advice that he has learned based off of the experiences that he has been through in his own life.
“He has definitely given me a lot of words of advice just based off of experiences he has had playing in Alaska and raising his family and everything,” Dani Turner said. “He definitely has been a big influence just on my perspective of moving forward after graduation.”
Wagner has taught his players lessons that are applicable to both basketball and life. That’s what good coaches do. Implement lessons that go beyond the court.
“He’s taught me a lot and has a lot of great sayings but I’d say mostly that I’ve learned that defense wins championships and there’s no substitute for effort and heart.” Rigsby said.
Wagner has taken in basketball players from all over the country to add to the Maverick women’s basketball program. The recruitment from all over has added depth to the roster adding stars like Turner from Florida, senior Sydni Brandon from Grand Junction and Rigsby from a small town of De Beque.
“He took a chance on me, being from a small school and all. He always gave me confidence and I’m forever grateful for that.” Rigsby said.
Wagner and his crew of collective players will play their final game of the regular season against Western Colorado before hosting the first-round of the RMAC Tournament on March 3.
