Football
- Title:
- Defensive Line Coach
- Email:
- ct3357@columbia.edu
Carlif Taylor joined the Columbia football staff as defensive line coach in February 2026 after two seasons coaching the defensive front at Eastern Illinois University.
At EIU, Taylor’s defensive line produced multiple Ohio Valley Conference honorees, including first-team All-Conference performer Nicholas Oliveira-Chace in 2024, and three honorable mention All-Conference linemen in 2025 (Samuel Robles, Alton Jefferson and Trevon Piggee).
Before his time at Eastern Illinois, Taylor coached at the University of Chicago, serving as defensive line coach and strength & conditioning coordinator, and held similar roles at the prep level.
A native of New York City, Taylor was a standout at Southern Connecticut State University, where he earned multiple All-Conference selections and earned his bachelors degree in 2014. He went on to play four seasons in the National Football League with the New York Giants (2014–16) and the Dallas Cowboys (2017).
