Inside the Headset Presented by CoachComm
Lance Taylor, Head Coach – Western Michigan
April 24, 2025
On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Western Michigan Head Coach, Lance Taylor. In this episode, Coach Taylor talks about how he approaches the coaching profession with a walk-on mentality, why building meaningful relationships matters so much to him, and how he’s continually looked for chances to grow throughout his career. Coach Taylor led the Broncos to an appearance in the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl and was recently named to the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.
Key Highlights from the Episode:
-
How his walk-on experience at Alabama shaped his coaching philosophy.
-
Lessons learned from coaching under Nick Saban.
-
Transitioning between college football and the NFL.
-
Building strong player-coach relationships at every level.
-
Navigating the challenges of being a first-time Head Coach.
In-Depth Episode Timestamps:
1:15 – When Coach Taylor realized he wanted to coach.
2:54 – Walk-on experience at Alabama.
8:18 – Learning from Nick Saban.
17:27 – Coaching with the New York Jets.
26:12 – First role with the Carolina Panthers.
28:16 – Coaching RBs at Stanford.
32:22 – Experience in the interview process.
35:08 – Sharpening your tools as an offensive coach at Stanford.
37:13 – Returning to the Panthers as the WR coach.
40:01 – Leaving a good impression on the people you work for.
41:58 – Returning to the college game as the RB coach at Notre Dame.
44:27 – Learning lessons from each head coach you work for.
47:31 – First opportunity as an Offensive Coordinator at Louisville.
51:45 – Involvement in the offense as a Head Coach.
53:41 – Differences in interviews for Coordinator jobs.
55:04 – Hiring a staff as a first-time HC.
59:49 – Joining the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.
Stay Connected:
-
Follow Lance Taylor: @CoachLT39
-
Follow WMU Football: @WMU_Football
-
Explore all Inside the Headset episodes: Linktree
Subscribe to Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform for weekly episodes featuring top coaches in football. Don’t forget to leave a review and share each episode.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Lance Taylor, Head Coach – Western Michigan
On this week’s episode of Inside the Headset – Presented by CoachComm, we sit down with Western Michigan Head Coach, Lance Taylor. In this episode, Coach Taylor talks about how he approaches the coaching profession with a walk-on mentality, why building meaningful relationships matters so much to him, and how he’s continually looked for chances to grow throughout his career. Coach Taylor led the Broncos to an appearance in the 2024 Salute to Veterans Bowl and was recently named to the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.
Key Highlights from the Episode:
-
How his walk-on experience at Alabama shaped his coaching philosophy.
-
Lessons learned from coaching under Nick Saban.
-
Transitioning between college football and the NFL.
-
Building strong player-coach relationships at every level.
-
Navigating the challenges of being a first-time Head Coach.
In-Depth Episode Timestamps:
1:15 – When Coach Taylor realized he wanted to coach.
2:54 – Walk-on experience at Alabama.
8:18 – Learning from Nick Saban.
17:27 – Coaching with the New York Jets.
26:12 – First role with the Carolina Panthers.
28:16 – Coaching RBs at Stanford.
32:22 – Experience in the interview process.
35:08 – Sharpening your tools as an offensive coach at Stanford.
37:13 – Returning to the Panthers as the WR coach.
40:01 – Leaving a good impression on the people you work for.
41:58 – Returning to the college game as the RB coach at Notre Dame.
44:27 – Learning lessons from each head coach you work for.
47:31 – First opportunity as an Offensive Coordinator at Louisville.
51:45 – Involvement in the offense as a Head Coach.
53:41 – Differences in interviews for Coordinator jobs.
55:04 – Hiring a staff as a first-time HC.
59:49 – Joining the AFCA’s Board of Trustees.
Stay Connected:
-
Follow Lance Taylor: @CoachLT39
-
Follow WMU Football: @WMU_Football
-
Explore all Inside the Headset episodes: Linktree
Subscribe to Inside the Headset on your favorite podcast platform for weekly episodes featuring top coaches in football. Don’t forget to leave a review and share each episode.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
