DEER PARK, Ohio -- Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy football coach Eric Taylor was named the Deer Park head football coach and athletic director Friday afternoon.
Taylor, a 1996 Deer Park graduate, told WCPO.com he informed the CHCA football team of his decision at 3 p.m. Friday.
“The opportunity to return home to my alma mater was a great fit,” said Taylor, who was 84-21 in eight years at CHCA. “An opportunity to be an AD and impact student-athletes across the entire school was something I look forward to doing.”
Eric Taylor. Courtesy Deer Park Community City Schools
Taylor, 38, played football and wrestled at Deer Park. He said he will deeply miss CHCA and its student-athletes, families and administrators.
Taylor said the relationships he built with the players, players’ parents and alumni is something he won’t forget.
“I really feel our program developed a sense of brotherhood,” Taylor said.
CHCA, a perennial Division V power, has won nine Miami Valley Conference championships and 11 playoff appearances, including six consecutive.
Taylor led the Eagles to the playoffs seven times and regional semifinals six times. In 2014, CHCA was a state semifinalist.
In 2015, the Eagles were 10-2 and a regional semifinalist.
“We cannot express enough gratitude to Coach Taylor for what he has brought to our football players, our athletic program and our school community,” CHCA athletic director Matt Coleman said. “While we are saddened by the news of his departure, we are happy for him to take this next step in his career to become an athletic director and to do so in his own hometown. Deer Park is getting an outstanding man of faith, conviction and character, and we congratulate Deer Park for bringing back one of their own. We wish the very best for Coach Taylor in his next chapter of his life and thank him for his lasting impact on CHCA.”
Prior to CHCA, he was the Finneytown head coach for six years and spent six years as head wrestling coach at Indian Hill and Finneytown.
CHCA said in a release Friday a full-time position may be available for the next head coach.
More information may be at chcafootball.com. Questions may be directed to Matt Coleman, Director of Athletics at 513-247-0900 and more information can be found at chca-oh.org/Employment.
