University of South Dakota Athletics

Miles Taylor, who joined Nielson' staff as defensive backs coach at South Dakota in the summer of 2020, was promoted to Co-Defensive Coordinator following the 2024 season in January 2025. Taylor has been a major factor in the Coyotes' pass game, heading up the game plans against opponent passing attacks which have helped lead the Coyotes to deep playoff runs in 2023 (quarterfinals) and 2024 (semifinals).

During his five seasons in Vermillion, Taylor coached now NFL defensive back Myles Harden (2020-23) who is on the active roster for the Cleveland Browns.

Joining the Coyotes staff under Nielson in 2020, Taylor's first season with South Dakota would be cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In his second season – first full season – Taylor helped lead the Coyotes to the program's second-ever FCS Playoffs (2021) and helped spearhead a defense that 20 points per game. He guided true freshman cornerback Myles Harden to the HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American Team and Harden led the nation in passes defended per game. USD picked off five passes in just four games led by Harden, who had two in his collegiate debut.
 
In year two, Taylor helped lead South Dakota back to the FCS playoffs and the program hosted its first postseason game in 35 years. A defense that limited foes to 20 points per game was the catalyst. Depth at the cornerback position developed by Taylor was key as well. USD played without its two starters over the last four games. Da’Raun McKinney, who transferred from Iowa, filled in and finished as the Coyotes’ fifth leading tackler with a team-high eight pass breakups. South Dakota also saw senior safety Elijiah Reed earn all-Valley honors and was signed by the New York Jets following the 2022 NFL Draft.

Taylor’s arrival in Vermillion followed a brilliant playing career at University of Iowa (2014-17) as a defensive back under Defensive Coordinator Phil Parker, followed by two more seasons in Iowa City as a graduate assistant.

Taylor was one of three true freshmen to compete for the Hawkeyes in 2014. He was a 14-game starter at strong safety as a sophomore in 2015. In all, he competed in 50 games for head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker. He totaled 169 tackles with 3.5 for loss. Taylor also had one interception and a fumble recovery.
 
Taylor was a three-time recipient of the Team Hustle Award at Iowa, and earned the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award as a senior in 2017. He graduated in 2017 with a degree in political science, and earned his master's degree in sport management in 2020.

While on staff at his alma mater in 2018, he helped the Hawkeyes to a 9-4 record including a 27-22 win against Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl. Iowa was 10-3 in 2019 including a 49-24 win against USC in the Holiday Bowl.

Taylor spent the summer of 2019 as a Bill Walsh Defensive Intern with the Baltimore Ravens. There, he worked primarily with defensive backs and special teams units, and broke down preseason practices and scrimmages. UT-Martin made Taylor their cornerbacks coach in February of 2020 and he served in that capacity before arriving at USD.

The Silver Springs, Maryland native holds a Political Science degree from the University of Iowa (2017) and also earned a master's degree in Sport Management from Iowa in 2020. Taylor and his wife, Kari, live in Vermillion. Taylor's father, Chuck Taylor, from whom he learned the game from, played at James Madison. His younger brother, Kyle, also spent time in the Hawkeyes' program.