Eric Sorenson
In many ways, Andrew Taylor saw his football future as just a little boy exploring his vast west Valley neighborhood.
“I remember, I had my little Huffy bike,” Taylor, flashing a wide smile, explained to the “Zone Read” during a recent sit down in his office. “Me and a couple of my friends would ride up around here [waving his finger in no specific direction]. There were little trails in the farm fields in-between the irrigation canals.
“I do remember, growing up, you could hear the coyotes at night. There was supposedly a den in this area.”
In 1990, that den in those open fields turned into Centennial High School, and would transform into one of the more dominant, and most consistent, football programs on the west coast.
Now Taylor, a former standout player at Centennial (who played collegiately at Glendale Community College, and the University of Tulsa), and 23-year star defensive coordinator working under his father, the legendary Richard Taylor, is preparing for his first season as the lead dog for Coyotes (remember, it’s pronounced “Ki-yotes” at Cen10), this fall.
As they say, the apple never falls far from the tree.
Father-Son Time
Richard Taylor started his coaching career in the Valley at nearby Peoria High, working under another highly successful head coach, Doug Klapp.
A big part of Taylor’s work schedule as an assistant at PHS was spent scouting other schools, specifically long-time rival, Cactus.
At the tender young age of nine, Andrew was “introduced” to coaching.
“He would usually give me one little thing to look at [during a play],” Andrew said pointing to an imaginary player. “’Hey, watch that kid. Tell me anytime he blitzes.’
“He didn’t blitz there, dad! He didn’t blitz! He did! He did!”
Andrew would then create a little diagram of the last play on the sideline, drawing a wide smile of approval from his dad.
Nearly four decades later, the roles are reversed. Richard Taylor will serve as an assistant under his son, continuing to work with CHS’s defensive line. As the head coach, Taylor also coached the defensive end groups.
The Pressure of Success
It started out as just a normal day on campus a few weeks into the off-season.
Andrew Taylor was in his history classroom, just steps away from the Centennial stadium, when dad stopped by for his almost daily chat.
During their conversation, Richard Taylor casually broke the news.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking about it,” Andrew said, imitating his dad’s voice. “I’m ready to be done. I’m going to step aside…I’m going to talk to admin today.”
After the district posted the position, and other candidates were interviewed, the worst kept secret became officially official.
The Andrew Taylor Era had begun.
Blessed and honored… pic.twitter.com/gUONefuD3n
— Andrew Taylor (@Coach_ATaylor) February 19, 2025
The former young understudy is well aware of the vast football shadow his dad casts.
Richard Taylor’s fingerprints are all over the program, most notably in the Coyotes’ weight room where all four walls are lined with pictures of alums who played in college, as well as professionally.
“I do feel pressure,” Andrew explained. “It’s more of a mix of emotions…it’s a different world now. I definitely do feel pressure to not only keep the program at the level that we’re at, but to advance it even further, and take it another step.”
Taylor, who was awarded the Broyles Award earlier this year as the state’s top assistant coach, has consistently crafted some of the most thorough schemes our state has seen, cherry picking a few formations and footwork techniques from Nick Saban and Bill Belichick through the years.
Andrew said it’s still undermined if he will continue to call the defense in his new role as head coach.
Putting a Face with the Name
For the most part, Taylor has adjusted well to his new role, but it wasn’t without some getting used to.
Relationships and connection are crucial in high school football.
Returned yesterday from our five day football camp at Cal Lutheran. We honored our old traditions and maybe added a couple new ones as well. Players and coaches enjoyed the football, weather, food and brotherhood. Thanks to the staff @AY_BILT for all your help and support a camp!
— Andrew Taylor (@Coach_ATaylor) July 23, 2025
While Taylor could likely recite Centennial’s three-deep defensive depth chart blindfolded, he knew this off-season he’d have to get better acquainted with the rest of the roster both on the field, and off.
“Several times in the spring, I would lead the film review with the offensive players,” he said flashing a wide smile. “The first few times there would be an offensive meeting, [they’d be looking at me], and I’d say, ‘Yeah, I’ll be in here sometimes, too (laughing).’”
Taylor quipped he “can’t lose” when the offense, or the defense makes a big play in practice.
“Yeah, my heart is a little more on the defensive side, of course,” he continued. “But I’m going to be involved in both sides [of the ball], and special teams.
“Showing the players that, even if they don’t play defense, I know them, care about them, and love them, as well…I’m ready to pour everything I have into this.”
Not Broken, Don’t Fix
Centennial football consists of far more steak than sizzle.
The foundation of the program Richard Taylor built was anchored by hard-nosed kids who prided themselves on work ethic and fundamentals.
The old man’s Midwest lunch pail coaching roots were everywhere.
For years the Coyotes’ practice “field” was a mostly dirt lot speckled with weeds on the far end of campus. CHS’s game stadium won’t win any beauty awards either, but the eight State Championships more than speak for themselves.
Centennial football prides itself on every speck of the working-class dirt they move.
Some teams practice. We prepare 💼🏈
.
.
.
📷 @avixmedia pic.twitter.com/KlfL9y5ptw— Centennial Coyotes Football (@Cehsfootball) July 16, 2025
“All those things are totally in alignment with me, as well, on how I think and how I want things to be,” Taylor explained. “I’m sure they’ll be a couple of little things here and there, but that main focus of the program isn’t going to change.
“We tell our players, ‘Hey look, we’re going to play some school that has 4,000 students, and all this money and stuff.’
The work backs the look, and the look backs the culture 📸 pic.twitter.com/wfVeKU88Oc
— Centennial Coyotes Football (@Cehsfootball) June 30, 2025
“We got to beat them by being tougher…if you gotta fall on a rock, that’s ok. At some schools, they may get it handed to them. We have to make it tougher for us. Some of those little raggedy edges we’re ok with.”
’24 Growing Pains into ‘25 Gains?
By many, including myself, the then 0-4 Centennial Coyotes were all but football roadkill off the Loop 101 and 83rd Avenue last September.
Not only were there whispers in football circles of Richard Taylor retiring much sooner than later, but an undercurrent of detractors saying this version had “lost their edge” and were “weak and soft,” – two taboo opinions for anyone familiar with the west Valley’s most successful program over the past two decades.
Now those handful of freshmen and sophomores who started on varsity (mostly by necessity) are experienced and older, the trenches are bigger and stronger, and Centennial returns a three-year starting quarterback in Kai Manna, who has totaled over 5,000 total yards and 49 touchdowns.
While the Coyotes won’t be named in the same sentence as Liberty, Basha, or even Chandler, they’ll be somewhere in the conversation of Top 6A teams and Open contenders after taking out Mesa Mountain View in the 6A Champiuonship last December in Tempe.
Despite an 0-4 start to the season, the Centennial Coyotes are your 6A Conference Champions!
FINAL SCORE:
Coyotes 31
Mountain View 21 pic.twitter.com/IUwDGzwiHN— Gridiron Arizona (@gridironarizona) December 7, 2024
Taylor feels this group mirrors the 2023 team, which knocked off Basha and Chandler on their way to the Open Division Championship.
“I don’t make any predictions, but it just reminds of that team with the mix of older and younger players,” Taylor noted. “You keep telling yourself, [last year] will help us later.”
Centennial is a state champion again. 6A State Champs 31-21 over Mesa Mountain View.
— Centennial Coyotes Football (@Cehsfootball) December 7, 2024
Here’s one prediction we all know will ring true in 2025: the Centennial Coyotes will be as hard-edge as ever.
After all, the football apple never falls far from the football tree.
