Betsy Taylor
Coach & Athlete
Betsy Taylor has been a significant part of the Southwest Missouri sports community for more than three decades, distinguished by an extraordinary career as both an athlete and coach. Her accomplishments helped establish and strengthen opportunities for women in athletics while leaving a legacy at Carthage High School and Missouri Southern State University.
A Carthage native, Taylor began making her mark in athletics at Carthage High School. She started playing tennis the summer before her freshman year and quickly established herself as one of the area's top players. She competed in the No. 2 position as a sophomore before moving to the No. 1 position during her junior and senior years.
Taylor's success extended beyond high school competition. At age 16, she won the Joplin Open and went on to win nine consecutive individual titles, while also partnering with Susie Sharp. Taylor and Sharp won the Carthage Open, and she also competed in mixed doubles with Ron Edwards.
Taylor continued her athletic career at Missouri Southern State University, where she was a member of the school's first women's basketball team in 1974-75 and first women's tennis team in 1975. Her place in these inaugural programs made her an important part of the early history of women's athletics at the university.
After her time at Missouri Southern, Taylor returned to Carthage and began what would become an exceptional coaching career. In 1975, she coached the first girls' volleyball team at Carthage High School and continued to lead the Lady Tigers until 1990. During her 15 seasons as volleyball coach, Taylor guided Carthage to 10 Southwest Conference championships and two district championships. Her teams helped establish Carthage as a force in girls' athletics and set a standard of excellence that continued for years after her tenure.
Taylor then turned her attention to tennis, coaching the Carthage girls' tennis team from 1990 through 2000. During that time, a Carthage doubles team advanced to the state semifinals. She also coached the boys' tennis team for three years during that period.
Beyond coaching victories and championships, Taylor was committed to the health and well-being of the people around her. During her years at Carthage High School, she founded a wellness program for teachers and staff, demonstrating that her interest in athletics extended beyond competition and into lifelong health and wellness.
Taylor's accomplishments have earned her recognition at both the local and collegiate levels. She was inducted into the Missouri Southern State University Hall of Fame in 1998, and her 1974-75 women's basketball team was inducted into the MSSU Hall of Fame in 2024.
In 2025, Taylor was among those recognized by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at its annual Women's Sports Luncheon, honoring her contributions to women's athletics in Missouri.
Her legacy can be measured in championships and titles, but also in the opportunities she helped create for generations of young women. As an athlete, coach, pioneer, and mentor, Betsy Taylor has made an enduring contribution to the athletic tradition of Carthage.
