Lavern "Kip" Taylor 2000

Born in Jackson Michigan in 1907, Kip Taylor was a natural athlete.  At 95 he still remembered specific plays and game outcomes from games he played and coached years ago.

 

Kip moved to Ann Arbor with his family for grade school and attended Ann Arbor High, graduating in 1926. There he played football, basketball and baseball.  He said he "loved his days at Ann Arbor High."

Kip went onto the University of Michigan to play football and basketball as a freshman.  As a sophomore, Kip started on the varsity football team and caught the first touchdown in Michigan Stadium.  In Kip's third year he was injured at the U of M vs. Wisconsin Game.  He broke his neck and would never play sports again.  He didn't give up this love for sports and became a coach and teacher.  Kip was a football assistant coach and the head boy's basketball coach from 1930-34.  He coached at Pioneer under the guidance of Lou Hollway and then moved to Hammond, Indiana to coach a team that struggled to win.  In the next six years the team ended up beating all of their opponents.  In 1940 he returned to Ann Arbor and coached the football team to an 800% winning record, with three undefeated seasons (1940, 1941, 1943).  In 1943 the football team beat Sturgis to win the state championship.  He was a local hero.  

 

In 1946 Kip moved on to be an assistant coach Syracuse University.  Kip then the head coach at Oregon State.  After several years he moved back to Ann Arbor and managed the U of M golf course and Michigan ice rink for 12 years.   

 

"I feel I have accomplished my goal-of helping other to love, enjoy and achieve success in sports, participation in which for some reason was denied me during my college days." 

 

He was known for his wonderful sense of humor. Kip passed away in 2002.