Benjy Taylor, a former NCAA Division I head coach at Chicago State, is expected to be named an assistant coach for the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team next week.

Taylor confirmed yesterday that he "did all the paperwork" for the position, but did not want to comment until it became official.

Hawai'i head coach Gib Arnold also declined to comment.

Taylor was the head coach at Chicago State for the past three seasons. The Cougars compiled a 39-53 record during his tenure, including losses to Hawai'i in the Stan Sheriff Center in 2008 and 2009.

Taylor led Chicago State to a 19-13 record during the 2008-09 season. The Cougars ranked third in the nation in scoring offense (84 points per game), and it was the first winning season for the program in 23 years.

However, the Cougars dropped to 9-23 during the 2009-10 season, and Taylor was released last month.

Taylor also was a head coach at North Central (Ill.), a NCAA-III program, from 1995-2000.

Taylor also served as an assistant coach at seven NCAA-I programs: Richmond, Cornell, The Citadel, Northern Illinois, Pepperdine, Indiana State and Tulane.

Taylor and Arnold were both assistant coaches at Pepperdine during the 2000-01 season.

Taylor would be the second member of Arnold's coaching staff. Walter Roese was named an associate coach last month.

Once Taylor's hire becomes official, Arnold would still have to fill one more assistant coach position. That third spot is not expected to be filled until later this summer.