THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608211210
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 31 lines
Rod Taylor will return to the Hampton Roads Admirals next season as a player-assistant coach.
Taylor, the team's most valuable player the last two seasons, has signed a one-year contract. It will be his seventh season with the Admirals.
Taylor's return was expected, though not certain. He had negotiated with an English hockey team in the spring. This month a team in Austria contacted him and offered him a one-year contract. But neither club offered him the chance to coach.
``He didn't get a paper job,'' coach John Brophy said. ``He wants to do the work and he's going to get the chance. He's very interested in coaching. We're certainly glad to have him back as a player, and it's up to him as to how far he gets in coaching.''
General manager and assistant coach Al MacIsaac said Taylor will be required to work longer and harder than his teammates.
``He's got to be the Rod Taylor of old, which means he needs to score goals and win games,'' MacIsaac said. ``But he will be staying after practice, looking at video and doing other things an assistant coach must do.
``John and I both have been talking to Rod for more than a month to get things done. We're happy he's signed. Rod seemed very excited when we finally got it done.''
Taylor holds franchise records for games played (272) and goals scored (188). Taylor's 325 points are second to Brian Martin's record of 346. by CNB