Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Add Mike Taylor as Assistant Coach
7/27/2026 2:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic men's basketball Head Coach John Jakus has announced the hiring of longtime professional and international coach Mike Taylor as an assistant for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
"I've known Mike for a few years, since his time with the Polish national team," said Jakus. "He's one of the most well-respected Americans to ever coach overseas. To combine that with his over 650 games as a head coach and his time spent with NBA teams, we feel very honored to have a coach at his level come join us in Paradise."
Taylor has over two decades of international coaching experience, totaling 654 professional games to be exact, as well as over 100 games in the NBA's D-League. He most recently was installed as head coach for Science City Jena in their stretch run in German Bundesliga and was able to successfully stave off relegation with a dramatic two-point overtime win in May.
"I'm very excited to join the staff at Florida Atlantic to help John (Jakus) and the program," said Taylor. "There is so much to love about FAU, the basketball players and the staff. I'm looking forward to help Winning in Paradise."
Other previous stops on Taylor's lengthy résumé include head coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, where he started the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) expansion team from the ground up and earned CEBL Coach of the Year in 2023; the Brampton Honey Badgers and Vancouver Bandits, also in the CEBL; over seven years as head coach of the Polish national team, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in the 2019 FIBA World Cup; and tenure in the NBA D-League as an assistant with the Maine Red Claws (affiliated with the Boston Celtics) and as head coach of the Rio Grande Vipers (Houston Rockets).
Further international experience for Taylor took place in Germany – where on three occasions for three separate teams, he earned the "Aufstieg," or promotion, to a higher level – as well as in the Czech Republic (as an assistant with the national team) and in Brentwood, England. Collegiately, he has previous stops as an assistant at Pittsburg State (Kansas), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from IUP, and his Master of Arts in communications from Clarion. In addition to his successful coaching track record, he is also an experienced TV basketball analyst, taken part in Eurobasket 2025 in Riga, Latvia; FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines; and Eurobasket 2022 in Berlin, Germany.
SEASON TICKETS
2026-27 season ticket holders can renew today by clicking here. New customers wishing to purchase premium seating, or in other areas currently unavailable, are encouraged to join the wait list or to call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
#WIP
"I've known Mike for a few years, since his time with the Polish national team," said Jakus. "He's one of the most well-respected Americans to ever coach overseas. To combine that with his over 650 games as a head coach and his time spent with NBA teams, we feel very honored to have a coach at his level come join us in Paradise."Taylor has over two decades of international coaching experience, totaling 654 professional games to be exact, as well as over 100 games in the NBA's D-League. He most recently was installed as head coach for Science City Jena in their stretch run in German Bundesliga and was able to successfully stave off relegation with a dramatic two-point overtime win in May.
"I'm very excited to join the staff at Florida Atlantic to help John (Jakus) and the program," said Taylor. "There is so much to love about FAU, the basketball players and the staff. I'm looking forward to help Winning in Paradise."
Other previous stops on Taylor's lengthy résumé include head coach and general manager of the Winnipeg Sea Bears, where he started the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) expansion team from the ground up and earned CEBL Coach of the Year in 2023; the Brampton Honey Badgers and Vancouver Bandits, also in the CEBL; over seven years as head coach of the Polish national team, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in the 2019 FIBA World Cup; and tenure in the NBA D-League as an assistant with the Maine Red Claws (affiliated with the Boston Celtics) and as head coach of the Rio Grande Vipers (Houston Rockets).
Further international experience for Taylor took place in Germany – where on three occasions for three separate teams, he earned the "Aufstieg," or promotion, to a higher level – as well as in the Czech Republic (as an assistant with the national team) and in Brentwood, England. Collegiately, he has previous stops as an assistant at Pittsburg State (Kansas), Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) and Clarion University of Pennsylvania.
Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from IUP, and his Master of Arts in communications from Clarion. In addition to his successful coaching track record, he is also an experienced TV basketball analyst, taken part in Eurobasket 2025 in Riga, Latvia; FIBA World Cup 2023 in Manila, Philippines; and Eurobasket 2022 in Berlin, Germany.
SEASON TICKETS
2026-27 season ticket holders can renew today by clicking here. New customers wishing to purchase premium seating, or in other areas currently unavailable, are encouraged to join the wait list or to call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
#WIP
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