Former Arcadia, San Tan Charter coach Kerry Taylor finds NFL opportunity with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kerry Taylor is jumping back into football coaching mode again. This time, it's in the NFL.

The former Phoenix Arcadia and Gilbert San Tan Charter high school coach said he'll be working an internship this summer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, possibly with receivers, and punt and kickoff returners.

Taylor was a star receiver at Chandler Hamilton High and Arizona State, then later went to the the NFL, including a stint with the Cardinals.

He said this was something he was thinking about since last September, when it was first presented to him.

"I knew coming into last year, it was going to be my last year at San Tan," Taylor said. "For me, it was time to move back to a higher level of football.

"I got tired of dealing with administrators who don't understand football on the level I come from, and did for a living."

Taylor said the plan with his wife was to coach high school before moving to another level. They welcomed their second child last winter. 

Taylor had success at both Arcadia and San Tan Charter, but there were bumpy roads along the way. With help from parents and booster, he had to fight to be reinstated as head coach at Arcadia after he was told at the end of May 2019 that his coaching contract wasn't being renewed.

That led to community uproar in support, and, two weeks later, the principal offered an apology and reinstated Taylor.

Taylor had been outspoken over the Arizona Interscholastic Association's warning to the Arcadia football program. On social media. Taylor defended his program on the school self-reporting recruiting and mandatory out-of-season practices to the AIA.

Arcadia had gone 6-4 in Taylor's first year after going 0-10 the previous season.

Then, last fall, Taylor was let go by San Tan Charter the day after a 42-22 win over Arete Prep. It was the final game of the season that gave San Tan a 5-5 record in its second season transitioning from the Canyon Athletic Association to the AIA.

At the end of the game, some San Tan players stomped on the logo Areta Prep painted of a pink ribbon at midfield in honor of coach Cord Smith's wife, who was dealing with Stage 4 cancer. 

Taylor feels he has grown through his two years at Arcadia and two years at San Tan Charter.

"The people that know me, they know what I'm about and my work ethic and how I do things," Taylor said. "Other people try to tell me what they think it takes to get to the next level who have never been there. For those people, those administrators and those athletic directors who have never played at a high level, they don't know what they don't know."

Taylor said he has good relationships with Buccaneers running backs coach Todd McNair and wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, who was an assistant receivers coach with the Cardinals when Taylor played there.

Taylor said he'll report in July to training camp in Florida.

"From there, it could lead to like a fulltime position," Taylor said. "The opportunities are endless. I don't really know exactly what it's going to lead to. I just know it's a great opportunity to make the most of it. Whatever God has in store for me next, I just go with the flow."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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