‘Very proud’: University of Regina Cougars’ women’s basketball coach stepping down after 19 seasons

University of Regina women's basketball coach Dave Taylor is stepping down, the school announced Thursday. (Source: University of Regina Cougars)

After 19 seasons as head coach of the University of Regina (U of R) women’s basketball team, Dave Taylor will be stepping down from the program prior to the 2025-26 season, the school announced Thursday.

“It was a very hard decision to leave the U of R,” Taylor said in a press release. “My time has been filled with great memories of the people, the games, the fan support and the day-to-day enjoyment of the job.”

“The program is in a great place and I feel the time is right to leave. I am very proud of the run of success,” he added.

Taylor had been the coach of the Cougars since the 2006-07 season and amassed a program-high 280 regular-season wins in his career. He led the Cougars to two Canada West titles (2013, 2018) and nine national tournament appearances, including trips to the national championship game in 2008, 2009 and 2013.

The Cougars saw a great deal of individual successes on the national level under Taylor’s leadership as well, including three U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadians, six second-team All-Canadians, and two U SPORTS Rookie of the Year award winners during his time.

The team never failed to qualify for the conference playoffs under Taylor, who is a two-time winner of both the national and Canada West Coach of the Year awards (2011-12, 2022-23). 61 of the Cougars’ 111 all-time playoff victories came with Taylor at the helm, and his .757 regular-season win percentage and .656 playoff mark are both tops in program history.

His 482 wins against U SPORTS opponents ranks 10th all-time in U SPORTS women’s basketball history and he leaves with the fourth-most playoff wins of all-time.

“Dave is truly a Regina basketball legend,” U of R Director of Sport, Community Engagement & Athlete Development Lisa Robertson said. “Throughout his incredible career, he led the Cougars to heights that few programs ever reach, consistently keeping them among the nation’s best and making them a powerhouse in the highly-competitive Canada West conference.”

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“His teams brought our community together, filling the gym during thrilling playoff runs and unforgettable battles,” she added.

Taylor’s tenure with the Cougars expands long beyond his head coaching role, as he joined the program as an assistant coach at the beginning of the 1993-94 season.

His time as an assistant saw the Cougars win a national championship (2001) and four conference championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004). He served as an assistant coach under both Christine Stapleton and Jeff Speedy for a total of 13 seasons before being named the program’s ninth head coach in May of 2006.

“I want to thank my wife Jennifer and children Anna, Reese and Hayden who always supported me,” Taylor said. “Thanks to all the amazing players I got to coach and the assistant coaches and staff who helped me run the program.”

“Thanks to the community for all the support that allowed us to compete at the highest level. I leave full of wonderful memories,” the coach added.

”Women’s basketball in the province is stronger and richer because of Dave’s leadership, passion, and dedication,” Robertson said. “Both the University and the basketball community in Saskatchewan owe Dave a deep debt of gratitude. We wish Dave and his family nothing but the very best.”

“He will always be part of the Cougar family,” the school added.

According to the U of R, Taylor has accepted the position of women’s basketball coach for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Michaela Kleisinger will take on head coaching duties in an interim role for the 2025-26 season. A comprehensive search will be conducted to identify the program’s next head coach prior to the 2026-27 season.