Podcast: SNHU’s Josh Taylor on building program, state of Division 2

Southern New Hampshire University men's coach Josh Taylor joined 'The Goal.' (SNHU Athletics)

The latest guest on New England Soccer Journal’s “The Goal” podcast is Southern New Hampshire University men’s soccer head coach Josh Taylor.

Taylor is in his eighth season as SNHU’s head coach and he has led the Division 2 program to a winning record every season that he’s been at helm, as well as two NCAA Tournament appearances. Last year, the Penmen finished with a record of 11-6-1.

This season, the Penmen are sporting a record of 3-1 heading into Wednesday night’s game against Saint Anselm. Taylor’s squad has already racked up three shutouts.

Taylor joined the show to discuss his program’s success and how it has continued to grow, as well as the Division 2 landscape as whole and its future viability.

The full podcast can be accessed below and is available on all major platforms. If you enjoy it, please leave a rating and a review.

Here are some highlights from our discussion with Taylor.

On the keys to the development of SNHU’s program:

Taylor: “Traditionally, it’s been a Division 2 top-level program. It’s been a very heavy international flare to it, way before my time here. There’s a lot of dedicated alumni. There’s two alumni right down the hall  coaching on the women’s side, Elle (Monteiro) and Jamie (Williams). It’s just been traditionally a really strong program. I just view it as a privilege to be here and just want to work hard every day, and kind of honor the past alumni and coaches.”

On programs trying to move from Division 2 to Division 1:

Taylor: “There’s always rumor mill and gossip — we gossip with the best of them. You’re watching a game or you’re out recruiting and something pops up — ‘hey, did you hear this?’ So, yeah, we gossip like everybody. We’ve always heard rumblings of different programs, whether it comes to fruition, you just don’t know. You kind of control what you can control.”

On the hardships of coaching at the Division 2 level:

Taylor: “Recruiting is always the lifeline of a successful program. If you’re a good recruiter, you’re going to have a good program and you’re going to be competitive at the end of the day. There’s always that — players have that Division 1 dream and sometimes they see it more as the avenue to potentially go the professional route. I always say, ‘look, it’s hard to go become a professional athlete.’ You need the right set of eyes. The timing has to be right. You have to hear ‘no’ a lot, and then that right coach likes you, the right technical director likes you. We always sell the experience and the total package.”

On the Northeast-10 Conference this season:

Taylor: “I always say this is the strongest (D2) conference in the country, at least top three every single year. There’s so many teams — I mean, every match is competitive. Of course, there’s a game here or there where a team can run away with it. But, again, you can just go down the line of Franklin Pierce, Bentley is off to a good start. Our conference as a whole in the last week or two is off to a really good start.”

On the main objectives for his team this season:

Taylor: “When I got hired, it was immediate that you knew what’s the standard here and what has been done here. That’s why I always say it’s a privilege to be here, and what we compete for. Being in the conversation and in the national tournament is really the ultimate goal. Anything can happen during that time. There’s so many steps to get there, and if you don’t just focus on (the next game) — that’s all you can control — then you’re never going to be playing in November or early-December.”

The Goal” podcast is brought to you by the New England Revolution and Soccerheads New England.

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