Longtime Johnson & Wales University IDA head coach and professor Crystal Taylor collected her second International Dressage Association (IDA) National Coach of the Year Award this past spring.

"I was very surprised, honored and humbled to receive the IDA Coach of the Year Award," said Taylor, who also took home the award in 2013. "I have to thank my amazing team of dedicated, hardworking and passionate JWU student-athletes, our equine partners, and our northeast region of teams that has such unity and support of each other and all teams."

Taylor was informed that she received a total of 28 nominations for the honor. The nominations – which came from a combination of JWU student-athletes, northeast region teams, and team members from other colleges and universities – were then reviewed by a selection committee. The process involved an evaluation of the candidate's commitment to sportsmanship, team success, community engagement, and rider development. Further, the award requires a combination of exceptional leadership and team achievements.

The 2017 IDA Hall of Fame inductee – who is active in the equestrian industry as a teacher, competitor, and judge – added, "I want to thank our IDA organization that has had the vision and dedication to support this sport and create such a positive environment for coaches and athletes."

Now entering her 27th year as a full-time professor in the Equine Studies and Animal Science department at JWU in 2026-27, Taylor's most successful campaign at JWU was in 2012, when she guided the Wildcats to the IDA National Championship. JWU also has three national runner-up finishes on Taylor's watch (2013, 2014, 2022), and a bronze finish in both 2026 and again in 2025.

The Smithfield, Rhode Island resident coached National Champion riders in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2025. In 2018, she had an Upper Training level rider finish third at the National Championships and another finish as Reserve Champion in Intro in 2024. The JWU team has also earned the title as Regional Champions multiple times.

Taylor is a certified riding instructor through the USDF who has extensive experience in the hunter/jumper discipline, dressage discipline, eventing discipline, breaking and training young horses, and racehorse industry.

Owner of a bachelor's degree in Equine Business and Master's Degree in Business Education from JWU, Taylor remains very passionate about educating students and providing them with real-world experiences in the equine industry.