Defiance Tabs Jensen as Interim Head Coach for Football

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Defiance College athletics department has announced that Nate Jensen will serve as interim head coach for the football program effective immediately. Jensen will take the reins of the team from Rob Taylor, who resigned from his position on Tuesday.

"Rob Taylor has devoted 14 years to the DC football program with dedication and commitment. All of Defiance College is very grateful to Coach Taylor for all that he has done, both for the program and literally for the hundreds of players in whose lives he has made such a positive difference," said Defiance College President Mark Gordon. "We will always consider Rob as a great friend of DC and especially of the football program."

Jensen will replace Taylor as the 30th head coach in the rich 109-year history of Defiance College football, while continuing his current roles as the defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Yellow Jackets.

"I am pleased that Nate has stepped into this position at such a critical time in the season," said Defiance College Athletics Director Jenni Morrison. "Coach Jensen will have all of our support and I have all the confidence in the world in him."

Along with his three years on the coaching staff at DC, Jensen was a four-time lettermen with the Purple and Gold from 2000-2003. During that time, Jensen played for Taylor and helped the Jackets to the HCAC Championship in 2001 as a starting defensive end.

"I want to thank Coach Taylor for bringing me on staff here at Defiance College," added Jensen. "I look forward to this opportunity to be the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2011 season and to help our student-athletes throughout the rest of this year, while remaining competitive on the field as well."

Taylor leaves Defiance after spending the past 14 seasons with the Purple and Gold, including the last nine as the head coach. 

"I want to express my gratitude to Defiance College for the opportunity to serve as its football coach," stated Taylor. "My family has grown here over the past 14 years and there have been a lot of really great times and memories that we will truly miss."

During his head coaching tenure with the Yellow Jackets, Taylor piled up 38 victories and became the program's all-time wins leader with a 10-7 triumph at Manchester on November 6 of 2010.

Other highlights during the Taylor era include being named as the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2005, piling up a 27-18 clip in HCAC action since the start of the 2005 season and leading the Jackets to a top-three finish in the HCAC in five-of-six campaigns entering 2011.

Taylor saw eight of his student-athletes earn All-American accolades, with four being selected as HCAC Players of the Year and 125 garnering All-HCAC awards. Taylor ends his time with Defiance as the second-longest tenured coach in program history with a 38-47 career clip, including a 31-26 mark in the HCAC.