Dedrique Taylor, now 51 years old, is entering his 13th season as the head basketball coach at Cal State Fullerton.
A Veteran Coach at a Crossroads
A former player at Kings River Community College, Armstrong Atlantic State, and UC Davis, Taylor began his coaching career at UC Davis in 2000 before serving as an assistant at Nevada and Arizona State.
He took over the Titans in 2013 and has since posted a 161-205 overall record. Taylor has guided the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances, in 2018 and again in 2022, both times winning the Big West Tournament as an underdog seed.
Recent Struggles Create Urgency
The past two seasons have been difficult for Cal State Fullerton. The Titans have gone 20-44 overall and just 8-32 in Big West play, slipping toward the bottom of the standings. The lack of success has thinned crowds at Titan Gym, which holds 4,000 fans but has seen fewer attendees as the team’s struggles have continued.
Now, Taylor enters a crucial season where improvement is not optional. A turnaround will be essential to keeping stability within the program.
A Daunting 2025–26 Schedule
The Titans open the 2025–26 season at home on November 3 against Caltech before heading to Wyoming on November 8. The non-conference slate includes a mix of challenges, a California Bears game, a visit to Hawaii, and road contests at Oklahoma State and SMU.
Those early matchups will be key for a team trying to rediscover its footing after two rebuilding years.
Fighting to Climb the Big West
According to the Big West coaches’ poll, UC Irvine is projected to win the league, while Cal State Fullerton was picked last out of 11 teams, just behind Cal State Bakersfield.
That prediction gives Taylor and his squad plenty of motivation. With a retooled roster and renewed focus, the Titans are hoping to prove the critics wrong and restore the winning culture Taylor once built in Fullerton.
One of college basketball’s most respected figures, Dedrique Taylor knows what’s at stake, and he’s ready for one more fight to keep the Titans moving forward.