Dan Taylor was named head women's tennis coach at Buena Vista in January of 2019 and will begin his eighth season as the program's head coach in the fall of 2026.
Taylor has continued to increase the roster size nearly every season since he took over the program and has more than doubled its size during that time. In 2020-21, the team notched a pair of conference victories after going winless during conference play in each of the previous six seasons. It followed that up with two more A-R-C wins in 2021-22 to mark the first time since the program had three straight seasons from 2011-13 where it won multiple conference matches.
Under his guidance, BVU has also landed 18 Academic All-Conference women's tennis selections.
Taylor came to campus after having served as the head boys' tennis coach for Spirit Lake-Okoboji since 2006. He led that program to three sub-state final appearances in his career, including one in 2018. He's also coached several individual state qualifiers during his tenure.
In addition to his time leading SL-O, Taylor has also served as an instructor of group and private lessons at the Bedel Family YMCA in Spirit Lake since 2007.
Taylor spent time working as a tennis instructor at the Athletic Club in Okoboji and got his coaching career started with two summers (1998 & 2001) giving lessons and organizing tournaments with ACT Tennis Services in Downers Grove, Ill.
He does have familiar ties within the American Rivers Conference, as he is a 2000 graduate of Luther College and was a member of the Norse men's tennis team. He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy and religion, and in May of 2004, he earned his master's of divinity degree from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.
