Taylor Powell - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Taylor Powell

Title:
Defensive Intern - Defensive Line
Phone:
540-568-6517

Taylor Powell is in his first season with the James Madison football program, as he serves as a coaching intern with the defensive line.

Powell joined the Dukes after spending the 2025 season as a defensive analyst and linebackers assistant at New Mexico State. In the role, he created daily practice plan for the team and scouting reports for the defensive staff. He also ran the offensive scout team with the quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends.

Prior to NMSU, Powell spent a season at his alma mater Sacramento State (2024) as a linebackers and nickels assistant coach. There, he mentored linebacker Will Leota to First Team All-Big Sky status, as he led the team with 94 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss.

His first coaching job came at Independence Community College in Kansas (2023), where he was linebackers coach and special teams coordinator. He coached four players at Indy CC who would move on to Division I programs.

Powell played football at Northern Arizona (2016-19) and at Sacramento State (2020-21). He was a three-year starter between the two programs and was a two-time All-Big Sky selection (2016 and 2017 at NAU).

He graduated from NAU in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice with a minor in physical education. Powell later earned a master’s degree in educational technology from Sac State in 2022.