Ariton coach, teacher Taylor Polk dies following heart issue at practice

Ariton High School assistant baseball coach Taylor Polk died on Friday at UAB Hospital after suffering a “cardiac issue” at practice last week, according to a news release from the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

A 2012 Demopolis High School graduate, Polk was a long snapper for the Troy University football team. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Troy.

The 31-year-old taught special education at Ariton for seven years and was an assistant for the back-to-back defending baseball champions.

“His positive impact as a coach and mentor for our high school student-athletes and coaches alike will continue to have a long-lasting effect,” said AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon. “So many have been touched by his leadership, perseverance, courage and faith.”

Polk was also an assistant baseball and football coach at Charles Henderson High in Troy in 2017-18, where he was also the interim head baseball coach.

“(When) I hired Coach Polk, one thing that stood out to me about him was his willingness to do anything for anyone no matter what it was, whether in his professional career in special education or in his coaching career,” Ariton principal Josh Herring told the Troy Messenger.

“He had that unique ability to put himself second and always put others first. In this life we have so many adults that struggle with putting others first. Coach Polk had no struggle with that. He was willing to do anything for everybody and his abilities as a person bled over into his profession as a teacher and a coach. His willingness to be a servant and to help made him good at everything he did.”

Funeral arrangements are being managed Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark.