Menchville receives new head coach with open arms as Rodney Taylor plans to usher in a new era
by Brandon Mitchell, recruit757Over the last four seasons, Ray Savage has given it a go as head coach of the Menchville Monarchs football team. Savage relieved Glenn Tidwell of his duties at the end of the 2014 football season and took over with a clean slate to open the 2015 football season. One his most memorable wins came at the end of the 2016 football season where the Monarchs were able to knock off a deteriorating Kecoughtan team by a score of 31-0. At the end of the contest, Savage noted that the way the Monarchs played to conclude the game gave him hope for the 2017 season.
It was a win that created a ripple effect within a Menchville program that had held a combined record of just 2-18 throughout both 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately, the Monarchs didn’t fare any better in 2017 and 2018 failing short of expectations on the football field finishing with a combined record of 3-17. This, in part, sparked the resignation of Coach Savage who coached his last football game for Menchville on November 3 against Chris Daniels and the Phoebus Phantoms.
With Savage stepping down, it left a vacant coaching position at the top of the depth chart for the Monarchs which was filled by former Heritage assistant Rodney Taylor. Despite finishing near the bottom of the Peninsula District for multiple seasons, it hasn’t changed the disposition of current Menchville prospects. Coach Taylor plans to keep those spirits elevated as the reception for his arrival has been nothing short of comforting.
“The reception was positive,” explained Coach Taylor. When I first got here I was greeted by some of the players and I got to explain my vision. It’s been wonderful. Everywhere I go and every time I’m in the building I always get warm greetings. I’m just putting all the pieces together to make sure that we’re as organized as possible.”
The climb from the bottom of the Peninsula District will be an extremely arduous task. The Monarchs have finished dead last in the Peninsula District in four of the last 10 seasons. As a matter a fact, you’d have to go all the way back to 1995 to find the last time Menchville knocked off a team that finished the season with a record at .500 or better.
In order to change the narrative at Menchville, Coach Taylor will have to scout the landscape to find out what the athlete population presents.
“I want to put as many athletes on the field that want to play football. We will never cut anyone unless something dangerous is done. If you have the heart and desire then we can teach you how to play this game. Right now the first thing we want to do is get our names out there so we can let the boys know who we are,” Coach Taylor stated.
Taylor has an extensive coaching history which began up at George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia. His coaching stops along the way also consist of Bowie High School (Maryland) and Heritage High School. Coach Taylor received his undergraduate degree from Bowie State University and secured his master of education from Norfolk State University.
– Brandon Mitchell
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