Nearly two decades ago, a highly touted five-star safety from O’Dea High School in Seattle, chose USC over Washington on August 14, 2005. Now, He is returning to his hometown, reportedly joining coach Jedd Fisch’s staff at UW as the safeties coach, according to multiple sources. He replaces Vinnie Sunseri, who left after the 2024 season to become Jacksonville State’s defensive coordinator. This marks his first role as a position coach after serving as a defensive analyst and assistant defensive backs coach at USC for the past three seasons.
He has strong local connections as the son of Stafford Mays, a former UW defensive tackle (1978-79) who enjoyed a nine-year NFL career. Stafford has also been an assistant coach at O’Dea, which recently won the 2024 Class 3A state championship. Taylor Mays’ decision to play for Pete Carroll’s USC team proved fruitful, as he became a three-time All-American, earning consensus honors in 2008, and finished his college career with 276 tackles, 21 pass deflections, and five interceptions. Meanwhile, Washington endured struggles under coach Tyrone Willingham. Mays was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft and played six NFL seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mays transitioned to coaching in 2022 at USC under Lincoln Riley. During his tenure, he helped develop standout players like Mekhi Blackmon, a first-team All-Pac-12 cornerback and third-round NFL Draft pick in 2023, and Calen Bullock, a first-team all-conference safety and second-round pick in 2024. Mays also served as USC’s interim safeties coach for the 2023 Holiday Bowl, where the Trojans defeated Louisville 42-28. His performance earned him a promotion to assistant defensive backs coach in 2024, coinciding with new NCAA rules allowing more on-field assistants.
At UW, Mays will work with new defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, a former safeties coach who developed several NFL players at Illinois. However, UW’s safety unit faces challenges, as starters Kamren Fabiculanan and Cameron Broussard exhausted their eligibility in 2024, and Peyton Waters transferred to North Carolina. Returning safeties include Makell Esteen, Vincent Holmes, and Paul Mencke Jr., along with redshirt freshmen Rahim Wright II and Rahshawn Clark, who primarily played nickel in 2024. The team also welcomes incoming transfers CJ Christian (FIU) and Alex McLaughlin (Northern Arizona), as well as four-star freshman Rylon Dillard-Allen.
Mays’ local ties could bolster UW’s recruiting efforts. The Huskies are already in a strong position to land Derek Colman-Brusa, Washington’s top 2026 recruit, after signing his brother Lowen Colman-Brusa in the 2025 class. O’Dea High School, where Mays starred and his father coaches, is home to two of the state’s top recruits for 2026: edge rushers Fameitau Siale and David Schwerzel.