![Former WNBA Player Lilley-Wild Selected as Assistant Coach]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1623099771/vanguardedu/duggwnvez46x2yc35w7b/taylor-lilley-wild-hire.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1623099771/vanguardedu/duggwnvez46x2yc35w7b/taylor-lilley-wild-hire.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1623099771/vanguardedu/duggwnvez46x2yc35w7b/taylor-lilley-wild-hire.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1623099771/vanguardedu/duggwnvez46x2yc35w7b/taylor-lilley-wild-hire.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1623099771/vanguardedu/duggwnvez46x2yc35w7b/taylor-lilley-wild-hire.jpg","width":1240}])
Vanguard University is pleased to announce the hire of Taylor Lilley-Wild as the new assistant women's basketball coach under NAIA Hall of Fame head coach Russ Davis. After a storied playing career, she began coaching with the stated goal to impact, lead, influence, and mentor young women through the game of basketball.
Her coaching career began in 2011 when she was the First Assistant at The Master's University under former head coach Dan Waldeck. From 2018-21 she was the head varsity coach at Oaks Christian High School. Lilley-Wild guided OCHS to the 2019 Marmonte League Championship and 2019 CIF quarterfinals She was named the 2019 Marmonte League Coach of the Year for her efforts in the on-court development of the 2019 League MVP who went on to be an All-CIF First Team member, McDonald's All-American and NCAA Division I player.
"I am super excited to have Taylor join our staff, as she has a heart for helping people both on and off the court," remarked Davis. "She had an outstanding career as a college player and as a professional in the WNBA. She is a great spiritual fit as well and will make a huge impact in our program and on the Vanguard campus."
As a player, she was an absolute stud at the University of Oregon from 2006-2010 where she was a four time All-Pac 12 honoree and named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team. While in Eugene, she was twice named the Team MVP and was an All-Academic Honorable Mention. She set the previous single season record for three-pointer shooting percentage (50.6%), career record for three-pointers made (270) and single season three-pointers made (124). Lilley-Wild is a member of University of Oregon's 1,000 career point club, a finalist for the 2010 NCAA Three-Point Shooting Championship and a USA 19U Women's Basketball invitee.
"Being the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Vanguard University provides the ideal combination of working in a faith-based environment, influencing the character of student athletes, and being a part of a true family, one my husband and I are excited to raise our own family around," Lilley-Wild enthusiastically said. "It is a humbling opportunity to be able to work alongside and learn from Coach Russ Davis, knowing from my own personal experience, he genuinely cares about each of his players while challenging them to strive for excellence as a person and player. Vanguard Women's Basketball is the exact type of program I have continually desired to be a part of. I can't wait to get started, meet our team and grow together."
Professionally, she played the 2010-2011 season with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA before playing three seasons in the Australian Professional Leagues with the QBL Northside Wizards and the SNL Stirling Senators. In 2012 she was the QBL Player of the Year when she led the entire lead in scoring at 26 ppg and in 2013 she was SBL Player of the Year.
Lilley-Wild will take over the top assistant role under Coach Davis effective June 16th. The vacated position was the result of former assistant coach Maiya Michel, who coached with the Lions for three years, being hired at Arizona State University in May. Lilley-Wild will be the fourth full-time assistant coach in program history.
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