EWU spring football: Eastern calls upon new quarterbacks coach Troy Taylor for fresh ideas

The timing was perfect – for both sides.

Last winter, Eastern Washington was looking for a new quarterbacks coach. Troy Taylor wanted a new challenge.

Both are getting a fresh start this spring at Roos Field, where Taylor is bringing new energy and ideas to an Eagles passing game that looks to maintain its elite status in the Football Championship Subdivision.

“He’s a coach I believe can fit really well into what we are already doing, but he can bring a lot of new ideas and freshness to improve upon the things we’ve previously accomplished,” said Eastern coach Beau Baldwin, who hired Taylor in February to replace Zak Hill.

Taylor certainly has the credentials. Until Jared Goff broke his record last year, Taylor was the career passing leader at Cal, with 8,126 yards. He later served as an assistant coach and radio analyst for the Bears before serving for four years as co-head coach at Folsom High School, near Sacramento, California.

In two stints, the 48-year-old Taylor led Folsom to five sectional titles and coached current Washington quarterback Jake Browning.

All the while, Taylor said he was intrigued by the success of Eastern’s passing game.

“I knew they were prolific, but I also was impressed that there was a lot of carryover from what we did at Folsom – attacking the whole field,” Taylor said.

Perhaps more important, Taylor said he was impressed with the attitude of the staff during a midwinter visit.

“There’s a lot of humility – they don’t think they’ve arrived,” Taylor said.

No one is taking anything for granted after last year, when veterans Jordan West, Reilly Hennessey and Gage Gubrud all saw playing time during a trying November. All three are back, vying to a chance to start.

Taylor likes what he sees.

On West: “He’s a big, strong guy who’s very into it and a great leader.” On Hennessey: “He has great instinct and anticipation, high commitment level.” On Gubrud: “He’s very athletic.”

And without being asked, he said he was impressed with redshirt freshman Andrew Zimmerman.

The Eagles are barely a week into spring practice, but Taylor can appreciate the program’s culture.

“You don’t have to spend much time motivating the players,” he said.