Credit Taylor with an assist
Wednesday, May 05, 2004 12:00 am

Flax, Cagerz have benefitted from knowledge, guidance provided by new assistant

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By BOB DAVIDSON   Salina Journal

First he worked with guards Jeff Boschee, Brandon Hawkins and Maurice Jeffers, focusing on foot work.

After practice, he spent time working on low post moves to the basket with big Ethan Cole, Jeff Graves and Johnny Jackson.

Mike Taylor hasn’t wasted any time fitting in as the Kansas Cagerz’ new assistant coach.

The 31-year-old Taylor joined the Cagerz last Friday for their game in St. Louis and was with them Sunday in their home opener against Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Taylor comes to Kansas after a successful winter coaching a professional team in Ulm, Germany. His team, Ratiopharm Ulm, was 28-5, including a 26-4 record in league play.

“Being a coach overseas in Europe I contacted a number of USBL teams trying to get involved for three reasons: Number one, to continue to learn basketball on the pro level. Number two, to recruit for my teams in Europe. Number three, to keep my networks in pro basketball in the United States very strong,” Taylor said.

Taylor will be on the bench again tonight when the Cagerz entertain the St. Louis Skyhawks at 7 p.m. at the Bicentennial Center. The Cagerz (4-2) have beaten the Skyhawks (0-7) twice this season, both in St. Louis.

The Cagerz and Salina aren’t new to Taylor, who helped coach the Dodge City Legend in 2002.

“My experience with Dodge City has given me many good friends here in Kansas,” he said. “It’s kind of a like a home away from home. I can’t say enough about the good time I had in Dodge City, and it’s shaping up to be even better here in Salina.

“I knew coach (Francis) Flax from my time coaching in college and recruiting junior colleges, and we started talking about opportunities. I’m very thankful to be here.”

Taylor, a native of Pennsylvania, has considerable coaching experience. After playing four seasons at Indiana University-Pennsylvania, he coached at his alma mater, then at Clarion (Pa.) University and Pittsburg State. He has coached professionally overseas for three years, two in Germany and one in England.

He served as an assistant to Cliff Levingston with Dodge City.

Taylor’s job with the Cagerz is multi-faceted.

“You’ll see me working with the players through individual workouts, post and perimeter players,” he said. “I meet with the players at various times during the day and work them out.

“In terms of game strategy, I’m here to point out little things that could help the team and to support the organization where ever possible. It’s really hands-on working with the players and helping out where ever coach Flax needs me.”

Taylor has been impressed with what he has seen of the Cagerz in his first week.

“These guys are very hungry, very coachable and very hard workers. Jeff Boschee came to me (Monday) night and said, ‘Coach, can I meet you tonight and get a workout in at Kansas Wesleyan?’ These guys have been very receptive. They have good work ethic, and they’re very interested in learning.”

Jeffers says Taylor has been a welcome addition.

“He gives you individual work. It’s fine to come here and do it on your own. But sometimes you need a coach to come out there and instruct you in the right direction and take a look and tell you what you need to improve on and what you’re doing wrong,” he said.

“People might think it’s minor details, which it is, but it’s a big deal if it makes a difference between getting a good shot and a bad shot.”

Flax, understandably, is glad to have Taylor on board. Jeremy Combs, then Flax’s assistant at Brown Mackie, was the Cagerz assistant last year after Lorin Miller left early in the season to become women’s coach at Howard (Texas) Community College.

“Mike’s able to do some things I can’t do,” Flax said. “I don’t have time to break film down, I don’t have time to stay after practice to stay if somebody needs to iron out a particular little fundamental problem.

“He’ll work with the guys on an individual basis throughout the day other than practice time. That’s been missing in this program.”

“I’ve been around some good coaches, and I love to be in the gym like that,” Taylor said. “It’s a perfect fit for me.”

St. Louis is coming off a 116-93 loss at Oklahoma Monday night. The Skyhawks played without guard Kwan Johnson, who they signed late last week and had 23 points Friday in the Cagerz’ 105-103 victory.

But Johnson was placed on injured reserve Monday and Flax said Tuesday that Johnson was in Oklahoma, possibly discussing a deal in which he would join the Storm.

Justin Love, another Skyhawk newcomer last week who had 33 against the Cagerz, leads the team with a 24.3 scoring average. Jarrod Gee averages 19 points.

“We have to focus on one game at a time and not look past St. Louis because you don’t want to be the team that is the first to lose to a winless team,” Flax said.

“We’ve beaten them twice and both could have went the other way just as easily. We’ll try to guard their shooters and control the rebounds, and I think we’ll be there.”