Crescent High School Names New Basketball Coaches for 2023-24
Crescent High School is pleased to announce the appointments of new head varsity basketball coaches for the 2023-24 school year. Haley Taylor, a 2008 Crescent graduate, has been promoted from Assistant Coach to lead the Girls' program. James Dawson, an Assistant Coach at Westside for several years, will be at the helm of the Boys' program.
As noted, Taylor is a 2008 Crescent graduate who was a standout three-sport basketball, volleyball, and softball athlete during her time as a Tiger. She was All-Region and All-State in all three sports. In basketball, she was All-State for two seasons. Taylor is a United States Air Force veteran and returned to her alma mater to work and coach in 2021. Since that time, she has served as Assistant Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach and as an Assistant Coach with the Crescent Softball team. “We are extremely excited to have Haley Taylor take over this program,” said Athletic Director Jeff Craft. “I had the privilege of helping coach her when she was a student-athlete here, so I know her work ethic and the character she brings to our program. She has worked closely with Coach Parnell in building this team into a strong and reputable program over the last couple of years. She knows our kids, knows the game, and they respond extremely well to her. We are thrilled that she is taking this position.”
James Dawson has served as an Assistant Coach and a Varsity Assistant at Westside since 2005. In these capacities, he has developed an excellent reputation for developing young players as the JV Coach, and his experience as a Varsity Assistant will prove invaluable as well. In addition, Dawson has been Director and Coach for “Camp 8 Basketball” since 2015 and has experience teaching speed and agility skills to young athletes. Coach Dawson will teach physical education and coaching duties at Crescent. “We are extremely confident that James Dawson is the perfect person to come in and lead our Boys' Basketball program at this time. His track record of developing players, and his passion and energy for the game and making a difference in the lives of young people were extremely evident from the very first moment we spoke with him,” Craft stated. “I cannot wait to see where he will take our program. I know he will put in the work, and we are so excited to have him here as a Tiger.”