Tigers Add Another Seat to the Bench

Trinity Basketball is proud to introduce our newest addition to the coaching staff—Hunter Taylor. In addition to assisting for the Tigers, Coach Taylor will be entering his first year in law school at St. Mary’s University. Last year, he was an assistant coach on Joe Wootten’s staff at O’Connell High School in Washington, D.C., while also working as a legislative staffer for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Coach Taylor, a native of White Oak, TX, earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas in 2005 and earned his Master of Arts in Education from the University of Mississippi in 2008.

Trinity Basketball will immediately benefit from his passion for the game and enthusiastic approach.

What is Division III?

As the NCAA continues to define the identity of Division III athletics (refer to above video), now would be a great time to share an article written a few years back (1999 to be exact) by a Cornell College student-athlete. It is a terrific perspective on what drives a Division III athlete to take on such a difficult task as managing academics and athletics – especially when he/she strives to be successful in both arenas.


Why We Play Division III Athletics

It's not about getting a scholarship, getting drafted, or making SportsCenter. It's a deep need in us that comes from the heart.

We need to practice, to play, to lift, to hustle, to sweat. We do it all for our teammates and for the student in our calculus class that we don't even know.

We don't practice with a future major league first baseman; we practice with a future sports agent.

We don't lift weights with a future Olympic wrestler; we lift with a future doctor.

We don't run with a future Wimbledon champion; we run with a future CEO.

It's a bigger part of us than our friends and family can understand.

Sometimes we play for 2,000 fans; sometimes 25. But we still play hard. You cheer for us because you know us.

You know more than just our names. Like all of you, we are students first.

We don't sign autographs. But we do sign graduate school applications, MCAT exams, and student body petitions.

When we miss a kick or strike out, we don't let down an entire state. We only let down our teammates, coaches, and fans. But the hurt is still the same.

We train hard, lift, throw, run, kick, tackle, shoot, dribble, and lift some more, and in the morning we go to class. And in that class we are nothing more than students.

It's about pride—in ourselves, in our school.

It's about our love and passion for the game. And when it's over, when we walk off that court or field for the last time, our hearts crumble. Those tears are real. But deep down inside, we are very proud of ourselves.

We will forever be what few can claim...college athletes.

- Sean Sornsin, Dec. 3, 1999 edition of The Cornellian