Western Michigan hires Lance Taylor to lead football program

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Western Michigan has hired Louisville offensive coordinator Lance Taylor to lead its football program. Athletic director Dan Bartholomae made the announcement Thursday. The 41-year-old Taylor previously coached running backs for three seasons at Notre Dame and Stanford. He was also an assistant at Appalachian State and with the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets. Alabama coach Nick Saban gave him his start in coaching as a graduate assistant in 2007. Taylor walked on the Crimson Tide’s team in 1999 and later earned a scholarship as a receiver and special team’s captain for former coach Mike Shula.