USC football hopes Taylor Mays stays on the Trojans’ staff for the long haul. Now that the NCAA Division I Council has allowed defensive analysts to become hands-on coaches who can be on the sidelines during practices and games, USC defensive analyst Taylor Mays has been liberated and given the new ability to be more of a hands-on coach for the Trojans. USC Athletic Director Jen Cohen has spent a lot of money on Lincoln Riley’s new defensive coaching staff. She can’t break the bank for Taylor Mays, but she should try to throw him a few extra dollars in direct — and immediate — recognition of his increased value to USC now that he has been allowed, as a matter of NCAA policy, to do more coaching for the program.
In case you missed the story on NCAA coaching rule amendments, here it is from Pete Nakos of On3 Sports:
“At its annual meetings in Indianapolis, the 40-person council representing all 32 Division I conferences moved to allow all staff members to provide technical and tactical instruction to athletes during practice and games. For years, analysts and quality control coaches have been limited to assisting off the field through watching film and providing expertise in creating gameday strategy.
“Now they can help athletes grow on the field. The decision eliminates the NCAA’s 11-countable coaches policy, allowing just 10 assistants and a head coach to provide on-field instruction. The rule has become antiquated as top programs now employ a variety of analysts, quality control coaches, recruiting coordinators, player personnel directors, general managers and scouts. The move also ensures the NCAA doesn’t face any future legal action from college football coaches.”
Taylor Mays can now do a lot more coaching. USC should recognize Mays’ importance to the program and act accordingly.
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