Women's Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- culpt@wfu.edu
Head coach Tony da Luz announced the hiring of assistant coach Taylor Culp on April 12, 2024.
In 2025, Culp assisted in Wake Forest's 24th overall NCAA Tournament berth. Three members of the Wake Forest squad were tabbed with All-ACC Honors: forward Kylie Maxwell (Freshman of the Year, Freshman Team, 3rd Team), goalkeeper Valentina Amaral (3rd Team) and forward Allie Flanagan (Freshman Team). Maxwell was also named No. 1 on TopDrawerSoccer’s Midseason Rankings, while Flanagan was named No. 19. Amaral earned a spot on the National Rankings at No. 95, with defender Sierra Sythe at No. 40.
In his first year with the program, Culp helped guide the Deacs' to their first College Cup appearance since 2011, and 23rd overall appearance in the tournament. With his assistance, five Demon Deacons earned All-ACC honors: Caiya Hanks (First Team), Emily Colton, Emily Murphy, Zara Chavoshi (Second Team), and Valentina Amaral (Third Team). Additionally, Hanks was named a 2024 Mac Hermann Semifinalist following her record-breaking regular and postseason performance.
"I am so excited to add Taylor to our staff," said da Luz. "I've been impressed by his knowledge, work ethic and calm demeanor. He comes to us with solid college experience and a hunger to impact player's development. He also has a keen eye for talent and relates exceptionally well to recruits and their families. Taylor has familiarity with a broad base of recruits in all regions, most recently in the Midwest, which will help our recruiting reach. Taylor is a quality human being who cares about players. He will thrive here at Wake Forest."
Culp arrived from Missouri where he served as the forwards coach for the Tigers. In one season with Missouri, Culp helped mentor one All-SEC forward, while helping her become the SEC leading scorer.
Prior to Missouri, Culp served as an assistant coach at Elon, where he worked with the men’s soccer team as a goalkeeper coach in 2019, before moving to the women’s program in 2020 as an assistant coach. As an assistant, he was the recruiting coordinator and led scouting/opposition analysis for the team.
While at Elon, Culp helped the women’s team to three-consecutive winning seasons and saw six players earn all-conference recognition.
In 2020, Culp assisted in leading Elon to the program's first-ever Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance
He also helped guide the Maroon and Gold to a 9-6-2 record, including overtime victories over Northeastern and No. 23/25 Hofstra in 2021. With their performances, the Phoenix nabbed three all-conference selections.
Prior to his time at Elon, Culp served as an assistant with the Penn women's team in 2018, working primarily with the goalkeepers. While with the Quakers, he aided in the program becoming Ivy League Co-Champions as the team led the NCAA in goals-against average, clean sheet percentage, and save percentage. Starting keeper Kitty Qu secured First Team All-Ivy and United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-East Region. Additionally, she registered single-season program records in save percentage (.912) and goals-against average (0.35).
Culp has also spent time coaching North Carolina Fusion ECNL, starting in 2019. There he served as the director of goalkeeping and head coach for the boys (Level 2: U11, 12, 15, 16) and girls (U11 and 12) teams.
Prior to Culp’s time with the Fusion, he spent the 2018 season as a volunteer assistant/goalkeeper coach with the men’s team at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, N.Y.
A native of Piscataway, N.J., Culp played collegiately at UMass and Montclair State University, graduating from MSU in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He helped the Red Hawks capture the 2016 NJAC Conference Championship and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
