Taylor McColskey - Volleyball Coach

Taylor McColskey

Title:
Assistant Volleyball Coach
Email:
taylor@athletics.msstate.edu
Phone:
325-2722

Taylor McColskey is set to begin his third season in the assistant coach role for Mississippi State volleyball.

Over the last two seasons, McColskey has had a hand in the program’s rise in the SEC during the Julie Darty Dennis era. In his role, McColskey serves as the program’s recruiting coordinator, while assisting in training student-athletes and scouting opponents. His diverse coaching background and experience on the court has a major impact on the Bulldog program, especially at the net.

During the hybrid 2020-21 season, McColskey helped coach right side hitter Gabby Waden to All-SEC honors and libero Lilly Gunter to SEC All-Freshman Team laurels as State claimed series sweeps of No. 7 Texas A&M and Ole Miss, as well as a series split against Georgia.

In McColskey’s first season as an assistant coach for Mississippi State volleyball, he helped lead the squad to an 11-1 start, which tied the program’s best 12-match start all-time (2000, 1992).

During his two seasons at Georgia State, he trained the middle blockers and setters, while also coordinating team travel. He tutored Meisheia Griffin, who finished No. 26 in the NCAA in 2018 with 1.35 blocks per set and ranked No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference with 1.55 blocks per set in conference play.

Before his stint with Georgia State, McColskey spent three seasons at Georgia Tech. During his time with the Yellow Jackets, he was the recruiting coordinator and handled the program’s scouting and video breakdown. He also trained the setters and liberos.

With the Yellow Jackets, McColskey helped guide Georgia Tech outside hitter Teegan Van Gunst to a pair of honorable mention All-America honors. A two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team selection, Van Gunst also garnered CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship. He also trained libero London Ackerman to the top spot for career digs (1,828) and digs per set (3.98) in program history. He also trained setter Rebecca Martin to the No. 5 spot in career assists (3,505).

Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, McColskey spent one season at Jacksonville in 2013, prior to the arrival of current MSU head coach Julie Darty. In his lone season with the Dolphins, he helped them improve their record by 20 victories, finishing the 2013 campaign with a 30-4 record. Jacksonville also won the 2013 Atlantic Sun Tournament that season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history. He guided middle blocker Kylie Jacob to second-team all-conference honors and all-tournament accolades. While with the Dolphins, his primary responsibility was video breakdown and scouting.

McColskey worked for a variety of volleyball clubs prior to his arrival at Jacksonville, coaching club volleyball for six years throughout the Florida region, including Ocean Breeze, Jupiter and the Instinct Volleyball Club.

McColskey played two years (2007-09) as a defensive specialist and outside hitter at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. He graduated from Palm Beach State in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in supervision and management.

McColskey’s Coaching Career:
2019-Present: Mississippi State (assistant coach)
2017-2018: Georgia State (assistant coach)
2014-2016: Georgia Tech (assistant coach)
2013: Jacksonville (volunteer assistant coach)
2007-2013: Various clubs throughout the Florida region (head coach)