Men's Basketball Head Coach

Kyle Taylor

Men's Basketball Coach
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Hwy
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Office: (706) 419-1516

Fax: (706) 419-1660
E-mail: kyle.taylor@covenant.edu

Kyle Taylor is entering his third season as the head coach of the Covenant College Scots men’s basketball team. He is excited and grateful for the opportunity to rebuild the men’s basketball program, and so far is enjoying the process. With a line-up dominated by freshmen and sophomores with no college playing experience, the Scots finished last season with a 6-21 record. Another solid recruiting class and 11 returning players (including all five starters) has Coach Taylor excited about year three of the turnaround.

When asked about his first year, Coach Taylor had this to say, “it was a learning experience all the way around. I had a lot to learn and so did our young team. I made my fair share of mistakes, and so did they. Overall, I was pleased with our effort through a long season, and the fact that the guys stayed pretty positive with one another all year. We played well down the stretch and showed a lot of improvement which I’m hoping will carry over to this season.”

“Now that we are playing a full NCAA Division III schedule and have more experience, I expect to see a big jump in year two. We need to take care of the ball better, become a better passing team, and continue to improve our strength. I’m excited to see our player’s growth both on and off the floor as we move into our second year together.” Off the court there were a lot of bright spots in year one, highlighted by a Varsity team GPA of 3.01 in the spring semester.

A native of Salinas, CA, Taylor served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Minnesota State (NCAA Division II) in Moorhead, MN during the 2008-09 season. Prior to Minnesota State, Taylor spent the 2007-08 season as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at William Jewell College (Liberty, MO) under legendary NAIA Coach Larry Holley.

In 2006, Taylor served as the interim third Assistant Coach and Director of Basketball Operations at Cal State Northridge (NCAA Division I) for Coach Bobby Braswell. There Taylor was part of a coaching staff that signed nine scholarship players, including three all-conference players who helped lead Northridge to back-to-back Big West Conference titles and a berth in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

His first season on the sidelines was the 2005-2006 season where he served as the Video Coordinator at Pepperdine University (NCAA Division I) for Paul Westphal. Taylor graduated from UCLA in 2005 with a double major in Business/Economics and Political Science. Taylor received his M.S. in Health and Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State in 2008.

Kyle and his lovely wife Shannon have two children (Kade and Quinn), and reside on Lookout Mountain. They are members at Rock Creek Fellowship.

Listen to Coach Taylor's podcast tracks »

Kyle Mendenhall

Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Hwy
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Office: (706) 419-1530

Fax: (706) 419-1660
E-mail: kyle.mendenhall@covenant.edu

Kyle Mendenhall, who began at Covenant in 2010, serves as the top Varsity assistant as well as the head JV coach.  He will be responsible for coordinating the defense this year, and work closely with the post players.  Coach Mendenhall will be a valuable recruiter, mentor for the men in our program, as well as assist with opponent scouting, player evaluation, and film exchange.

“Kyle came highly recommended from a good friend of mine with Athletes in Action (John Farwell).  Once I met Kyle, I knew that he would be a great fit at Covenant College.  His passion for Christ, his energy, and how proactive and flexible both he and his wife Grace were throughout the search process, really stood out.”

A native of Hutchinson, Kansas, Mendenhall began his college playing career in 2002 at Hutchinson Community College.  During his two years there, his team went 55-12 and posted a conference title in 2004.  Kyle earned an associate’s degree in Sports Medicine from Hutchinson in 2004 and immediately continued his athletic and academic experience at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas.  His performance on and off the court there helped him earn first team All-Conference and All-Academic standing in 2006 as the Warriors made the NAIA national tournament.  

Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Mendenhall started to make a living as a teacher and coach- his first year of which he worked at Blue Valley High School in Kansas City.  But after a year there, he heard his calling to play and coach internationally.  In 2008, Kyle moved to Istanbul, Turkey and began coaching at Yeditepe University and playing in different leagues through the Sport Ministry Athletes in Action.  AIA sent him to tour different parts of Turkey and gave him the opportunity to run camps and coach in other countries such as Kyrgyzstan as well as play for a team in the Palestinian league.  

After his return to the states, Mendenhall took a position on the men’s basketball staff at Union College- a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference.  His responsibilities to the Bulldogs included academics, strength and conditioning, working with post players, and coordinating game film/ tape exchange.  He also served as the Resident Director of Union’s Pheiffer Dormatory.  

In addition to his associate’s degree from Hutchinson and his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and education from Sterling, Kyle holds a master’s degree in Physical Education/ Health from Union College.  Kyle has been married to his wife, Grace, since early July of 2010.  

 “I am excited and grateful for the addition of Kyle Mendenhall to our staff”, remarked head coach Kyle Taylor.  “His desire to disciple and build relationships with our players, his ability to communicate, and his basketball background made him an excellent candidate. We had a number of very qualified candidates, and I was thankful for all the interest in the position.”

Dan Johnson

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Hwy
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

Fax: (706) 419-1660
dan.johnson@covenant.edu

Dan Johnson began as an assistant on the Scots men’s basketball coaching staff in 2006.  He has been a staple on the sidelines through three coaches, and also served a two year stint as the Head JV Coach (2007-2009).  This will be Coach Johnson’s third year working exclusively with the Varsity team.  He will serve as the team's offensive coordinator, implementing our new offensive system, and assist with post player development.  “Coach Johnson knows his stuff, and he knows Covenant basketball”, said head coach Kyle Taylor.  “Dan will be a great asset to me on the sidelines and in practice. I know that our post players are going to benefit from his instruction.”

Johnson grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where he earned All-Conference and All-Area honors at Prospect High School before coming to Covenant.  Johnson played all four years for the Scots, and graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Business.  Johnson has a passion for missions work, and has utilized basketball as a missionary tool to share the Gospel.  He played for Sports Ambassadors in El Salvador and Honduras, as well as accompanying Covenant’s team to China in 2007.

During the summer months, he has served on the teaching/coaching staff of basketball camps at Wheaton College, Colorado State, and UT-Chattanooga.  Johnson is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the UT-Chattanooga.  It is Johnson’s hope that the basketball program at Covenant can partner with the educational element to develop strong character qualities among Scot student-athletes.

Isaac Speicher

Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Hwy
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

Fax: (706) 419-1660
E-mail: isaac.speicher@covenant.edu

Isaac Speicher began with the Covenant College Scots men's basketball coaching staff in 2010, after receiving his bachelor's degree from Covenant in May of that year. The son of Craig and Susan Speicher from Dayton, Ohio, Isaac majored in Psychology with a minor in Sociology.
 
Speicher will have on-court coaching duties for both the Varsity and JV program.  He will be responsible for the Transition phase of the game, focusing on both transition offense and defense, as well as rebounding.  He will be instrumental in the evaluation of prospective athletes, will assist with opponent scouting, assessment of player productivity, and be a valuable addition to the overall coaching staff and community at Covenant.

In addition to being involved in student life in many ways, Speicher also played two years of basketball on the intercollegiate level at Covenant before being sidelined permanently by injuries. "I feel very blessed to have had time at the intercollegiate level, even if it was shorter lived than I would have liked. God taught me a great deal about myself and about Him through that time. It was a first hand lesson on the sovereignty of God and how His plan is not necessarily my plan. It's better."
 
Isaac is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Sports Management.
 
As a recent college graduate, Isaac is excited to turn a new page in life. "I am extremely grateful to Coach Kyle Taylor and Covenant's Athletic Director, Tami Smialek for this opportunity. Since I can remember, I have dreamed of the chance to be involved in college basketball as a coach. The opportunity to do so at a place as special to me as Covenant, is a dream come true. I eagerly look forward to seeing what God does in my life further at Covenant."

When asked about Isaac, head coach Kyle Taylor had this to say, “He is a young coach that has great passion and love for the game of basketball.  I think he has tremendous potential in this profession, and also brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience as a student at Covenant College. I’m excited to see him grow and develop here at Covenant.”

Matt Ivers
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Covenant College
14049 Scenic Highway
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
matt.ivers@covenant.edu

Matt Ivers is entering his first season as an assistant coach for the Covenant College Scots men’s basketball program.  He is extremely excited and very gracious for the opportunity given to him by Kyle Taylor and Tami Smialek.  Ivers realizes this is an exciting time to join the Covenant College staff under the leadership of Kyle Taylor who is putting his stamp on the program.

When asked about the opportunity he has been given at Covenant, Ivers said, “I could not be more fired up to be working for the Covenant Men’s Basketball program under the direction of Coach Taylor.  Coaching college basketball was a dream of mine since I was a little boy – God just had a plan for me to take a little bit of a different route toward the coaching profession.  I have been a basketball “junky,” at the high school level and collegiate level for a long time and hopefully my business experiences will correlate to this position.  One thing is for sure, God put me here for a reason and I plan to go to work.  Throughout the interview process, I had no doubt in my mind that this would be a tremendous job.”   

“Coach Ivers is going to be a great college basketball coach,” commented Coach Taylor, “and I am thankful that he is going to be working here at Covenant.  Matt is going to be a great recruiter.  His sales experience and communication skills equip him well for making recruiting calls and building relationships with coaches and prospective athletes.”
 
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ivers has three years of executive sales experience, with extensive experience traveling for sales calls and training throughout the country.  Matt does not have any coaching experience, but has been around the game most of his life up until now.  He had a successful high school athletic career in basketball and football.  Ivers won back-to-back team MVPs his junior and senior season, and was All-Conference junior and senior year at the Varsity level playing the point guard position.  Ivers chose to play football collegiately instead of basketball, but his love for basketball never wavered.

Matt Ivers graduated from Western Illinois University in 2006 with a B.A. in Communications and obtaining a minor in Marketing.  Ivers received his M.S. in Sports Administration in the School of Education from Canisius College (N.Y.) in 2011.  Matt and his wife Hayley reside in the Chattanooga metropolitan area.  They are members at Silverdale Baptist Church.