laine Taylor, an assistant coach the past three seasons at Stanford University and head coach at the University of Montana from 1991-98, has been named head coach of the men's basketball program, following the resignation of Jeff Capel.

Capel, who said he was stepping down "in the best interest of myself and my family," posted a 122-98 record during his seven-year tenure with the Monarchs.

"I am most appreciative of the support and leadership that Jeff has provided our men's basketball program at Old Dominion," athletic director Jim Jarrett said.

Jarrett introduced Taylor, his wife and their four daughters at a news conference April 12. Taylor, 43, posted a 142-65 record in seven seasons as head coach at Montana, taking his teams to the NCAA tournament in 1992 and 1997. The most successful coach in UM basketball history, he earned national Rookie Coach of the Year honors and was named Big Sky Coach of the Year in 1992. He served as an assistant at Montana from 1986 to 1991.

"We are thrilled at the prospects before us at Old Dominion," Taylor said.

Jarrett described the new Monarch coach as one who has "a passion for the game that is just contagious." President James V. Koch, who knew Taylor while president at Montana, called Taylor "a teacher and a developer of players."

At the news conference, Taylor promised to run the program by the rules and to reach out to the community. One of his main goals, in addition to winning, will be to see his players graduate, he noted.

At Stanford, Taylor helped lead the top-seeded Cardinal to the NCAA West Region final last season en route to a 31-3 record. The Cardinal were ranked No. 1 for six weeks this past year and advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of Taylor's three years on the staff.

"Blaine played a pivotal role in our success during his tenure at Stanford," said Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery.

Taylor's Montana teams posted winning seasons in each of his seven years, recording 20 or more victories five times.

A Montana graduate, Taylor was a member of the Big Sky All-Conference squad in 1980-81. He earned the school's award as the Most Inspirational Player and was named the most outstanding male athlete in 1981.

"Blaine Taylor is an outstanding basketball coach, and I am confident that his expertise and passion will be the catalyst needed to create excitement, cultivate Monarch fans and recruit quality student-athletes," said Jarrett.

"Blaine has the drive and energy to take advantage of Old Dominion's enhanced potential, resulting from the construction of the Constant Convocation Center and the strengthened CAA."

At Montana, Taylor earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1981 and a master's in athletic administration in 1984.

Less than a month after his appointment, Taylor announced that he had hired Old Dominion alumnus Kenny Gattison, the 1986 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and a nine-year NBA veteran, as an assistant coach. Taylor also has retained seven-year Monarch assistant Jim Corrigan, and added another assistant to the staff, Larry Krystkowiak. A three-time Big Sky Conference MVP (1984-86), Krystkowiak played in the NBA from 1987-97.

A six-year member of the Charlotte Hornets, Gattison averaged 8 points and 4.7 rebounds during his NBA career. He also served as an assistant coach on John Calipari's staff with the New Jersey Nets from 1996-98.

"I was drawn to his personal qualities, down-to-earth approach and feelings about this university and the program," Taylor said.