Jerome Taylor's journey from Japan to East Stroudsburg North girls' basketball
Technically, this isn't Jerome Taylor's first time leading the East Stroudsburg North girls' basketball program. The former patrol officer stepped in last year after the previous head coach had to step away for medical reasons.
This year, however, Taylor comes into this year as the man in charge, leading a team of young ladies for his first full season of the Timberwolves program.
"Expect some teamwork," Taylor said about what to expect this season. "Over the last few years, we've seen the program slowly transition from what it was to what we're building now. We want to build the players up - confidence, accountability, team play and all-around togetherness. "
Taylor's coaching experience began halfway around the world during his time in the military, where his base and the local Japanese community collaborated to coach 5-to-8-year-old children. After his service ended in 2011, he led the strength and conditioning program at East Stroudsburg South in addition to being a patrol officer.
After taking some time off to focus on himself and his family, he returned to coaching in 2021, coaching the J.T. Lambert boys' basketball team. Taylor then received the opportunity to police at North, where his children go to school, leading to him becoming the assistant head girls' varsity coach, and now the head coach.
"It's not about the money for me, it's the love," Taylor said. "It's always been a community-guided situation for me. I've been a community police officer when I patrolled; I go to communities, churches, and out to the public to figure out what can I do to help. Now that I'm off the patrol and in the school, I think, 'What can I do for the community, for the kids?'
"My kids, and my community friends' kids are in this school. Whatever I can do to make a positive impact, that's what I'm here for."
It's evident that Taylor is continuing that supportive mindset with his players. During practice, everyone cheers players on, they high-five after good plays, and they all like to be around each other. But Taylor is still about business on the hardwood, and he plans to show that as well this year.
"No superstar mentality," Taylor said. "Everyone's accountable for their shot, their movement and their position of play. You can't be on the floor as a paperweight. If you watch on the floor, you can watch on the sidelines, and these kids know it."
North is raw, but there is talent among the ranks, notably with junior shooter Ayla Hashway and track and field star Celis Miranda. The team is also underclassmen-heavy, meaning that Taylor will have more than a year to work with this group.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: East Stroudsburg North's Jerome Taylor's coaching journey started in Japan
