The MSTCA would like to honor the memory of Kent Taylor, Cross Country and Track Coach at Norton High School, the first MSTCA Communications Director and incredible colleague and friend. Kent passed away in August, after long and courageous fight with cancer. Please join the entire Massachusetts State Cross Country/Track and Field Community in recognizing Kent's substantial contributions to our sport and please keep his family and his friends in the Norton Cross Country and Track and Field Communities in your thoughts.

Kent was already a veteran XC and T/F coach when he joined the MSTCA's leadership in the mid-2010s. His NHSXC blog provided an extremely detailed account of how his Norton teams (and Tri-Valley League XC in general) were performing. Using his background as an ELA teacher, Kent began assuming more and more communication roles in the MSTCA until he was officially named the Director of Communications in 2018. While in this role, Kent brought the MSTCA into the digital age.He was awarded the MSTCA Bill O'Connor Distinguished Service Award in 2022.

Kent revamped the MSTCA's bulk email process and wrote countless messages to its members. He wrote posts for the MSTCA website about upcoming events. He had the MSTCA buy a gimbal for his phone so he could ride on the back of the lead vehicle during XC races and livestream the varsity races, complete with his expert commentary. He attended every MSTCA indoor meet one season to interview winners and post the videos on social media. A few times he even got in front of the camera and recorded an MIAA XC Indoor T/F preview or two. In total, he laid the groundwork for everything the MSTCA now does regarding communications

Kent always made you feel like you were the most important person in the world and his smile and energy would fill an arena. We know that Kent's voice will continue to echo around the track at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. We will miss our friend and colleague greatly.

Kent Taylor Obituary