Taylor Named Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award Recipient
Feb 20, 2026 | Women's Basketball
KANSAS CITY – Texas A&M women's basketball head coach Joni Taylor was voted as the 2026 Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award recipient unanimously by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award was established in 2008 to honor Kay Yow, the former head women's basketball coach at NC State. Yow was one of the most respected coaches in all of sport, having won on both the national and international scene with over 700 career wins and three Olympic gold medals.
In addition, Yow coached a team to the Women's Final Four and was inducted into both the Naismith and Women's Basketball Halls of Fame. More importantly, she consistently lived out her faith in front of her players by "Trying to see them for who they can become, not just for who they are now."
Taylor will be presented with the award at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) convention at this year's Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Aggie head coach won the 2025 Carol Eckman Integrity in Coaching Award last year and also helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics with the women's national team.
Taylor and the Maroon & white return to the court Sunday, Feb. 22 at Reed Arena versus Arkansas at 2 p.m. The game will be the Aggies' senior day and tickets can be purchased at 12thmanfoundation.net.
For more information on the Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award, please visit fcaconventions.org.
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M women's basketball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's basketball team on Facebook, Instagram/Threads and X by following @AggieWBB.
The Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award was established in 2008 to honor Kay Yow, the former head women's basketball coach at NC State. Yow was one of the most respected coaches in all of sport, having won on both the national and international scene with over 700 career wins and three Olympic gold medals.
In addition, Yow coached a team to the Women's Final Four and was inducted into both the Naismith and Women's Basketball Halls of Fame. More importantly, she consistently lived out her faith in front of her players by "Trying to see them for who they can become, not just for who they are now."
Taylor will be presented with the award at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) convention at this year's Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Aggie head coach won the 2025 Carol Eckman Integrity in Coaching Award last year and also helped Team USA win gold at the Paris Olympics with the women's national team.
Taylor and the Maroon & white return to the court Sunday, Feb. 22 at Reed Arena versus Arkansas at 2 p.m. The game will be the Aggies' senior day and tickets can be purchased at 12thmanfoundation.net.
For more information on the Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award, please visit fcaconventions.org.
Follow the Aggies
Visit for more information on Texas A&M women's basketball. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's basketball team on Facebook, Instagram/Threads and X by following @AggieWBB.
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