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Many from around the state were saddened to learn of the death of Ariton High School teacher and baseball coach Taylor Polk, a Demopolis native.

Polk, 31, suffered a cardiac issue at practice last week and passed away Friday night, Feb. 21, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

“We are truly saddened to learn Coach Polk’s passing,” said AHSAA Executive Director Heath Harmon. “Our thoughts  and prayers go out to his wife and children as well as Ariton’s baseball team, student body, faculty and the entire Ariton community.

“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. So many have been touched by his leadership, perseverance, courage, and faith,” Harmon said.

Polk was born on Sept. 28, 1993, and was a native of Demopolis. He was a 2012 graduate of Demopolis High School where he was a member of the football team that won a state championship in 2009.

Following high school, he played football at Troy University as a long snapper under Coach Blakeney and Coach Neal Brown. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Troy University in special education.

Taylor began his teaching career at Charles Henderson High School, where he coached wrestling, baseball, and football along with being a special education teacher. 

He served as assistant football and baseball coach at Ariton High School and coached the Purple Cats’ junior-varsity basketball team since 2019. He also taught special education for Ariton for seven years. helped Ariton win the Class 2A state baseball championship in 2023 and 2024 – both are the school’s only state titles in school history.

He also served as an assistant baseball and football coach at Charles Henderson High School from 2017-2018 before serving as 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 was always dependable, always on time and always there.” Herring said. “His love for his students and athletes was evident.

“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 services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in the Ariton High School gymnasium with the Revs. Dave Walsh, Jason Howell and Scott Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in Pea River Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.