A former Owl who began her collegiate career as a middle blocker and finished as an AAC All-Conference First Team outside hitter, it appeared as though Taylor Davenport’s final season placed the cherry on top of a fantastic athletic career. But that was not the case; instead, it indicated the beginning of a new chapter. Mere months later, she would find her position shifting from the court to the sideline.
“Honestly, it kind of just fell into my lap,” Davenport said.
When Temple Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Linda Hampton-Keith found out Davenport wanted to pursue coaching, she was ecstatic.
“I was very excited. It was late, and I didn’t think she would want to,” Hampton-Keith said. “I kept asking her, ‘What are you doing next?’ And we just kept talking about it, and I said, ‘You know, let’s just see if we can keep you here.’ And she’s like ‘I actually would love to.’”
With years of experience, Davenport’s diverse volleyball career became key to her coaching on the hardwood.
“When I came to Temple, I was committed as a middle…Then, by the end of my career, I was an outside All-Conference,” she said. “That transition forced me out of my comfort zone and definitely increased my court knowledge, my volleyball knowledge, [and] my knowledge about what it means to be a teammate and be a team leader…I think I was able to use all of that as a coach.”
With a career in adaptability, the lessons learned from this positional shift now serve as a reference point for her trials as a first-time coach.
“The one thing about coaching is there is no black and white, so it’s definitely been a learning curve,” Davenport shared. “…I’ve been grateful to be surrounded by a coaching staff who helps a lot and a team that’s so welcoming…”
Luckily, her new role has been met with enthusiasm from a group she once competed alongside. Now, this shared trust is reinvested in communication.
“Another thing we’re big on is a feedback loop,” she said. “I’m always asking for feedback from my former teammates [who] are now my players and my coaches.”
Despite the title change, Davenport’s interactions with the team remain all the same. She shares that her and Coach Hampton-Keith have a unique dynamic that allows her to be supportive while still pushing her players to perform at their best. That approach, Hampton-Keith said, directly reflects Davenport’s preparation to lead.
“To have someone who has been pushed outside her comfort zone, she’s primed and ready as a coach to push others outside their comfort zone and get the best out of them as well,” Hampton-Keith said.
During her time as a player, Davenport worked regularly with Coach Hampton-Keith to enhance her skills. which ultimately served as a resume for her current position.
“She was so coachable and adaptable.” Hampton-Keith shared. “Through her hard work and perseverance, she climbed into being a First Team All-Conference outside hitter after having two years in college as a middle blocker, which is extremely hard to do.”
Hampton-Keith, now with Davenport as a fellow coach, has seen her team open a new fold. So much so that she now calls Davenport a member of the team’s “resident young folks” due to her youth and recent playing experience.
As a result of this history, Hampton-Keith shares that Davenport has a deep understanding of the team’s thinking in intense situations. She now serves as a crucial voice in bridging the player-coach gap. Her experience, along with her empathetic nature, has caused her to blossom from just a coach to a trusted guide for athletes who take the court she once played on.