Following Her Passion

Bowie State University Department of Athletics Gives Credit Where Credit Is Overdue

Patricia Taylor never stopped following her dreams.

Bowie State University Assistant Athletic Director for Intramurals and Recreation and Elizabeth City University Athletics Hall-of-Famer, Patricia Taylor made it her business to continue following her athletic dreams and now puts those experiences to even greater use.

Taylor’s role as Assistant Athletic Director for Intramurals and Recreation is to get students involved in different intramural sports such as basketball, kickball, dodgeball, volleyball, soccer, yoga or even spin classes.

Although fitness and wellness are important, what Taylor loves most about her job is when students appear to be enjoying the activities.

“I love seeing the students happy and just into it,” Taylor said. “They really seem to enjoy it, especially seeing them last semester. Last semester, we had a basketball tournament going on. And we had our championship game, and everything set up, and then, bam, COVID came. So, it messed that up. But we were right there; two weeks away from our championship.”

Taylor, a sports lover since her youth, brings her own experiences to her work.

She began playing basketball at age five and eventually earned a scholarship to play for Elizabeth City University, where she was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame.

After graduating, Taylor tried out for the Washington Mystics basketball team. Though she didn’t make the team, her basketball journey did not stop there.

Taylor started coaching women’s basketball and began her career at Riverdale Baptist as a women’s junior varsity head coach and lead assistant on the varsity staff. Later, she left and became Bowie State’s women’s basketball assistant coach for three seasons.

“This is my passion,” Taylor said. “I always tell people ‘your job shouldn't be work; it should be fun.’ You should be excited about going to work. And everything else will fall into place if you work hard and have a great attitude.”

Due to the suspension of Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) sports this fall until Spring 2021, each week Bowie State University Department of Athletics will spotlight a student-athlete or administrator.