Taylor Unroe

Follow Taylor on Instagram

Taylor Unroe completed her third season as associate head coach with the Clemson Volleyball program in 2023 after being hired on June 4, 2021 by head coach Jackie Simpson Kirr. Unroe, who was a standout libero at the University of Florida, brings a wealth of coaching experience after stints at Memphis, Mississippi State, High Point and George Mason. Unroe will spearhead the Tigers’ efforts defensively and in serve-receive.

Leading Clemson’s defensive efforts, Unroe guided Clemson to new levels during the 2023 season. As a team, Clemson finished with 271 total blocks, including 73 solo and 396 assisted, to mark the most by the team since 2014 and also tallied 195 aces for the most since 2004. She also mentored graduate Mckenna Slavik and junior Devan Taylor to over 1,000-career digs that included Taylor entering Clemson’s Top 10 list with 1,284 which ranks seventh. Taylor finished the season with 27 double-digit matches on the year. Slavik added the her season success with 15 double-doubles clocking double-digit digs and assists. In total, five players finished with 138 or more digs on the year led by Taylor (447, 3.69 D/S), Slavik (304, 2.79 D/S) and Mia McGrath (199, 1.76 D/S). Freshmen McKenna Gildon (177, 1.69 D/S) and Kennedy Wagner (138, 1.41 D/S) rounded out the top defenders for Clemson during the 2023 season. Unroe’s defensive leadership helped Clemson make its second-consecutive postseason appearance and advanced to the 2023 NIVC Quarterfinals. A strong start in preseason helped the team clock in at No. 51 in the first official RPI of 2023 and had the team climbing to No. 45 for the highest program RPI since 2008. During ACC play, the Tigers won three-consecutive ACC matches to mark the most consecutive win since 2019, that included sweeps against Syracuse and Boston College.

In 2022, Unroe mentored sophomore libero Devan Taylor to another stellar season after Taylor finished with a team-high 489 digs (4.01/set) to mark the most by a Tiger since 2015 and to lead the ACC. Taylor clocked 24 double-digit dig matches on the year, including eight with 20+ digs and surpassed 800 digs on her career against Miami (Fla.). Joining Taylor in the back row were Cate Long, Becca Micelle and Mia McGrath who combined for 453 digs through non-conference play to mark the most by four players, excluding a setter, through non-conference play since 2018. The Tigers led the conference in total digs during the season finishing with a team total of 1,729 for the most digs by Clemson since 2013. The defensive prowess helped the Tigers make their first postseason berth since 2018 by appearing in the 2022 NIVC.

In her first season with the program, Unroe helped guide Clemson to a 10-3 start, including 2-0 in ACC play, to mark the best start to a season since 2014. The Tigers also finished with a perfect 8-0 record against non-conference opponents in Jervey Gym that included a straight sweep of Rutgers for Clemson’s first victory over a Big Ten opponent since 1999. Unroe guided freshman libero Taylor to recording 348 (3.48 d/s) to lead the Tigers and mark the sixth-most digs by a freshman in program history.

Prior to Clemson, Unroe guided the outside hitters and backcourt defense at Memphis. Unroe mentored freshman libero Bailey Houlihan to early success as she averaged 4.93 digs per set, a team high and good for fourth in the American Athletic Conference. Unroe also guided Tiger outside hitter Sam Drewry, who led the team in kills in her freshman season.

Preceding her one season at Mississippi State, Unroe spent the 2017 season at High Point University. The Panthers saw incredible success as they registered an undefeated 16-0 record against Big South foes and a 24-8 overall record. High Point earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for the first and only time in program history. Unroe guided freshman libero Abby Bottomley to Big South Freshman of the Year honors, while also earning a spot on the Big South All-Freshman team and All-Conference First Team.

Unroe began her coaching career at George Mason, where she spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator under the direction of Simpson Kirr, who was the Patriots’ head coach from 2015-16 before her arrival at Clemson. Unroe propelled the Patriot defense to lead the Atlantic-10 Conference in digs for the first time since joining the league.

Before her coaching career began, Unroe achieved enormous success on the court at Florida. While at Florida, Unroe and the Gators recorded four-straight 25-plus win seasons, two Southeastern Conference championships, four-consecutive NCAA appearances and two NCAA regional final appearances. During her career, Unroe helped the Gators compile a 110-19 overall record and a 70-6 SEC record. Unroe’s name is also scattered throughout Florida’s record books. As of 2021, Unroe was second all-time in digs (1,558), ninth in aces (130) and fifth in sets played (449). During her junior year in 2013, Unroe became the first player in Florida volleyball history to be named the SEC Libero of the Year. She was also awarded AVCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2013. 

Unroe, a native of Muncie, Indiana, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in family, youth and community from Florida in 2014.