When previous head coach Elliot Zadow announced he would not be returning to Benson for the 25-26 football season, a search for a head coach by Athletic Director Deondre Jones started.
The candidate he decided on was Shaka Taylor, who was previously interviewed for the position two years ago.
“I was looking for someone who has been around Benson, who understands where the program is now,” Jones said. “Someone who knows what we’re going to need to be a winning program again.”
The main factor in Jones decision making was Taylor’s earlier pro experience and his ability to connect with the young athletes.
“If you get a group of eighth graders that’s coming as ninth graders, those are going to be your new advocates of growing your program,” Jones said. “Those guys are going to recruit their friends and people they want to come out to play.”
That is the focus of both Jones and Taylor, inspiring a new wave of student athletes with ideals, discipline and most importantly, love of the game.
“If you ask any ex-football player, everybody loves the game.” Jones said. “But it’s the time you spend at practice, the jokes you make on the field and bus are the part, I miss the most.”
Taylor, along with his coaches, held a football meeting in the last week of the 24-25 school year and delivered a speech recruiting players and outlining the expectations.
“We need to build a culture here,” Taylor said. “The guys who say they’re top dogs will come out and lose games, if we want to be top dogs we have to play like top dogs.”
The meeting was a success, with a considerable turnout for summer conditioning.
“A lot of things that were done before are going to change,” Taylor said. “We are going to condition; we are going to be in shape and were going to come out ready to work.”
Players noticed the difference early.
“Taylor’s methods are a lot more strict than earlier years,” said senior Shai Bullion-Langford. “It was a lot more running and lifting was more important.”
The effort put in by the coaches and student athletes led to the 25-26 football season opener against Burke on Aug. 30, ending in a defeat.
“The bunnies are showing we are still fighting,” team captain senior Dylan Marshall said.
Rebounding from the Burke game, the Bunnies played against Buena Vista on Sept. 5, ending in a 21-6 victory, Taylor’s first head coach win, along with Benson’s first in 3 years.
“Amazing,” senior Cristobal Delgado-Hernandez said. “It felt special after a 2-year win drought.”
The win brought a new morale and narrative to the players.
“I can see the future years of Benson football actually competing for championships,” said junior Avant Vaughn Jr. “Moving up and being high on the rankings board is the goal.”
The Bunnies then prepared for a home game against Lincoln Northeast on Sept. 12, resulting in a 56-0 loss.
“Even though we lost we were getting better and getting reps in,” Hernandez-Delgado said. “Taylor is keeping our heads high.”
The following week was the Homecoming game against Northwest, with the result being a 28-0 victory by Benson. With the highlight of the game being the Bunnies defense which scored twice on returned interceptions.
“I felt excited, like my hard work has paid off throughout the summer,” said senior Zyionne Montgomery. “I had the chance to leave it all out on the field.”
New leadership from both students and staff have been the driving factor according to the players.
“The leadership changes have played a big role in helping me and my teammates carry discipline and stay locked in for game week,” said Marshall.
As of writing this story, the Bunnies hold a 2-4 record with three more games to go in the season.