LEBANON– Darrell Taylor has resigned as head football coach at Lebanon High School. Taylor replaced Michael Webb in 2022 and compiled a 10-12 record in the last two seasons.
“I want to thank former Lebanon principal Joey Long for giving me the opportunity,” Taylor said. “I came to the decision that I was physically and mentally tired of the backstabbing and criticism that’s in the game. I love the kids, but I just want to move on and have some peace and quiet in my life. Thirty-four years is a long time; there comes a time when you’re ready to go, and I’m ready.”
Taylor, 60, started as an assistant coach at Castlewood in 1990 and was there for nine years.
He came to Lebanon as an assistant and stayed for 14 years.
Taylor went back and directed the Blue Devil football program as head coach for six years from 2013 to 2018, putting together a 21-41 record. Castlewood advanced to the playoffs in 2016 and 2017 under his tenure.
He returned to Lebanon as an assistant in 2019 before taking over for Webb as head coach.
The Pioneers were very successful in Taylor’s first year. He led Lebanon to the most wins since 2009, when he accumulated seven victories, including a thrilling 51-49 playoff triumph at Twin Springs.
Football, like most sports, runs in cycles. Lebanon graduated 14 to 15 players off the 2022 team and went through a rebuilding year in 2023 with a 3-7 record.
“That made it a hard decision,” commented Taylor, a 1981 graduate of Honaker. “We will have nine starters back on defense and seven on offense. They should have a better season this fall.
“I hope I’ve positively influenced the kid’s lives through the years.”
Coach Taylor, or D.T., as he is known to many, will be missed on the football field, but he will remain a teacher at Lebanon.
“Coach Taylor is a great man,” Lebanon principal Ryan Potts said. “He’s a fixture at LHS who has been dedicated to the players of Russell County for over 30 years and is someone who leaves some big shoes to fill.”