Taylor Independent School District has hired Sarah Neal as its new girls athletic coordinator and head volleyball coach, replacing
Rylee Davis. Neal said the opportunity to return to a smaller community was a major factor in her decision to leave Chaparral High School in Killeen and join the Lady Ducks program.
“I’m excited to come to Taylor and build on some really strong traditions and come back to a smaller area because being in Killeen with five high schools was really hard to build something that can kind of grow from the community,” Neal said. “Being able to come to Taylor is going to be a really good opportunity.”
A Bastrop native and graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Neal joins Taylor after coaching stops in Belton, Gonzales and most recently Chaparral High School.
Neal helped establish Chaparral's volleyball program when the school opened and guided the Bobcats to four consecutive playoff appearances during her four seasons at the school. The program's most successful season came in 2024 when Chaparral captured an undefeated district championship and made a deep playoff run. Neal was named District 16-5A Coach of the Year following the season.
In addition to volleyball, Neal has coached basketball, soccer, powerlifting and track and field throughout her career.
Neal takes over a Taylor program that has finished 2-10 in district play in each of the last two seasons and missed the playoffs both years. With only a few months before the start of the season, she said her immediate focus is building relationships with her players and helping them gain confidence. “Really, I just want to get some time to know them,” Neal said. “I know we are taking some time to compete in the summer league at Elgin, so getting to go see them compete and then put together our skills building during the week and really just opening up the gym and giving them opportunities to touch the ball without a lot of pressure before August would be great.”
The Lady Ducks will have to replace key graduates Makenna Watson and Peyton Wamble, but senior Tianna Candee returns as one of the program's top players.
“I think realignment is going to work in our favor this year and being able to build the girls' confidence and trust in year one,” Neal said. “I know they have some competitive girls here, so that will really work in our favor.”
The Lady Ducks will begin summer strength and conditioning workouts in the coming weeks before competing in summer league matches and preparing for the start of the 2026 season. Neal hopes the additional time in the gym will help lay the foundation for a program looking to return to postseason contention.
