News Summary
The University of North Carolina at Asheville has announced the promotion of Woody Taylor to associate head coach of its men’s basketball program. This decision follows his six years of dedicated service as an assistant coach and recognizes his loyalty and contributions to the team. Taylor’s tenure has seen significant success, including three consecutive 20-win seasons and a strong performance in the Big South Conference. Looking ahead, the Bulldogs aim to build on their recent achievements under the combined leadership of Coach Morrell and Associate Head Coach Taylor.
Asheville, NC – The University of North Carolina at Asheville has announced the promotion of Woody Taylor to associate head coach of its men’s basketball program, effective June 4, 2025. This move follows six years of dedicated service as an assistant coach under head coach Mike Morrell, who emphasized that Taylor’s promotion is well-deserved due to his loyalty and significant contributions to the team.
The upcoming 2025-26 season will mark Taylor’s seventh year with the Bulldogs. His tenure has been highlighted by substantial success, including reaching his 100th career victory during a game against Columbia International on December 30, 2024, where Asheville emerged victorious with a score of 95-53.
The Bulldogs achieved remarkable milestones in recent seasons, including a third consecutive 20-win season and a record of 70 victories over the past three years. During their last four seasons in the Big South Conference, the Bulldogs have maintained the best winning percentage in the league at .712, resulting in a formidable 47-19 record against conference rivals.
Furthermore, the Bulldogs demonstrated exceptional performance at home, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 13-1 record in Kimmel Arena, resulting in a .926 winning percentage. Over the last three seasons, the Bulldogs have amassed an impressive 38-3 home record, ranking third nationally for home winning percentage.
Not only did the 2024-25 season showcase strong individual performances, but it also set a record for the Big South Conference with five Bulldogs earning seven league awards. Under Taylor’s strategic guidance, the team made consecutive appearances in the Big South Conference Championship game and clinched the championship title in the 2022-23 season, which earned them an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
In the notable 2022-23 season, the Bulldogs finished with a 27-8 record, tying for the fourth-most wins across NCAA Division I men’s basketball that year and recording the highest number of wins by any Division I team in North Carolina. They matched a school record by achieving 16 victories during the Big South regular season and set a new standard with 25 wins against Division I opponents.
Under Taylor’s leadership, the Bulldogs saw significant improvements during his tenure. In his initial season, he led the team from a previous year’s four-win record to a 15-16 finish, marking an impressive 11-game improvement. The following season presented challenges due to a 30-day hiatus from play due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the team managed a respectable 10-10 overall record and a 9-5 mark in Big South play.
Recently, Coach Morrell also announced the hiring of Andrew Garcia as an assistant coach, who comes from Mercyhurst University and USC Upstate. In addition, Morrell had previously received Board of Trustee approval for a contract amendment on March 18, 2025. This amendment aligns his compensation with other coaches in the Big South Conference, reflecting the success he has achieved, including a school record for team wins and championships. His contract has now been extended through the 2029-30 season.
As the program continues to develop under the leadership of Coach Morrell and now Associate Head Coach Taylor, the Bulldogs look forward to further building on their recent successes and fostering connections within the Asheville community.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
UNC Asheville Baseball Team Faces Tough Loss to Charleston Southern
UNC Asheville Welcomes Andrew Garcia as Assistant Coach
Asheville Athletics Department Celebrates Staff Excellence
UNC Asheville Appoints Alex Raburn as Interim Baseball Coach
UNC Asheville’s Solomon Shines in Basketball Season
Jeff Maren Appointed Head Women’s Tennis Coach at UNC Asheville
Jeff Maren Appointed Head Women’s Tennis Coach at UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville Adds Transfer Guard DJ Patrick to Roster
Charlotte Overpowers UNC Asheville in High-Scoring Game
Charlotte Baseball Dominates UNC Asheville in Record-Breaking Win
Additional Resources
- UNC Asheville: Woody Taylor Promoted to Associate Head Coach
- Wikipedia: University of North Carolina at Asheville
- UNC Asheville: Andrew Garcia Joins Men’s Basketball Coaching Staff
- Google Search: UNC Asheville men’s basketball
- Longwood Lancers: Longwood Falls to Hot Shooting UNC Asheville
- Google News: Big South Conference basketball
