“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice,
and most of all, love of what you are doing.” — Pelé
If there were ever a quote that summed up the life and philosophy of Dr. Bill Taylor, Pelé’s words fit like a perfect pass. Taylor’s story is not simply about a love of soccer — it’s about how that love, combined with grit, community, and a deep sense of purpose, helped ignite the Treasure Valley’s rapidly growing soccer movement.
Today, Taylor is a respected neuroradiologist, a partner in major medical ventures, a longtime coach and mentor, a national leader in youth soccer — and one of the driving forces behind Boise’s emerging professional soccer era. But the path that led him here began on a small field in Hawaii, where a six-year-old kid kicked a ball year-round under the island sun.
From Hawaii to BYU: A Love of Soccer Before a Career in Medicine
Soccer shaped Taylor long before medicine did. After moving to Utah as a teenager, he continued playing competitively and eventually joined BYU’s club soccer program. When Title IX changed the university’s athletic landscape — eliminating the men’s Division I program — Taylor pressed forward. Professional soccer opportunities in the U.S. were limited at the time, but Taylor already knew he had another calling.
After earning a business finance degree, serving an LDS mission in Indiana (where he met his future wife, Kim), and starting a family at a sprinting pace, Taylor entered New York Medical College — navigating the demands of medical school with a newborn at home. By the time he finished, he and Kim had three children.
From New York, Taylor headed to Duke University Medical Center, where he completed his radiology residency and later a fellowship in neuroradiology. When he eventually landed in Boise to begin private practice, he had no idea how deeply he would come to influence Idaho’s soccer landscape.
The Coach, the Leader, the Builder
When Taylor’s children reached soccer age, he stepped in to coach — a decision that would ultimately reshape youth soccer across the state.
Setting his sights high, Taylor pursued the highest coaching credential offered by U.S. Soccer. Over six years, he earned his A License, coached club and high school teams, and became known for both his technical understanding of the game and his ability to connect with young athletes.
Just two years after moving to Idaho, Taylor was unexpectedly asked to run for President of the Idaho State Soccer Association. He accepted — and went on to serve as Vice President and President for more than a decade. During that time, he helped merge major clubs, modernize the competitive structure, and bring regional tournaments to Boise at a scale never before seen, winning hosting bids six times in ten years.
His leadership extended beyond Idaho. Taylor was later elected Vice President of U.S. Soccer, serving at the national level and gaining deep insight into the strengths and challenges of the American soccer system. Today, he continues that work as Vice Chair of U.S. Youth Soccer, bringing national perspective and opportunity back to the Treasure Valley.
Lighting the Spark: From Global Exhibitions to Packed Local Stadiums
A turning point for soccer in Idaho came when Taylor partnered with Argia Beristain (now CEO of the BSU Foundation), former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter, and other community leaders to bring Athletic Bilbao, the iconic Basque La Liga club, to Albertsons Stadium. The match drew more than 24,000 fans — a record-breaking event that proved Boise was ready for something bigger.
To further test local support, Taylor organized a match at Rocky Mountain High School between Portland Timbers 2 and Sporting Kansas City’s second team. With a $500 marketing budget — which he never used — the game sold out in three days, drawing over 5,000 fans, with many watching from outside the gates.
That moment made one thing clear:
Idaho was ready for professional soccer.
The Birth of Athletic Club Boise
Years of groundwork, countless meetings, political changes, and a global pandemic later, the opportunity finally aligned. Taylor joined forces with Brad Stith, Steve Patterson, and Dave Wali, contributing his experience and national connections to what has quickly become one of the Treasure Valley’s most anticipated sports projects: Athletic Club Boise (AC Boise).
The team enters USL League One this spring, with a competitive focus on moving into the USL Championship league, and beyond, as the USL transitions toward a European-style promotion and relegation system.
Boise is ready:
- ✔ Record-breaking season ticket sales (5,000+)
- ✔ Massive community support (4,000+ at the crest reveal)
- ✔ Viral home kit reveal (700+ attendees, $10,000 raised for the Saint Alphonsus Foundation)
- ✔ Athletic Club Boise Stadium at Expo Idaho — currently under construction and already turning heads, built to host 400,000+ people per year as a multi-purpose community asset
“This team isn’t owned by the owners,” Taylor says. “It’s owned by the community. Our job is to listen, to integrate, and to create experiences. This is a gift to the Treasure Valley.”
Building a Pathway for Idaho’s Youth
Perhaps nothing excites Taylor more than what AC Boise means for young players. Taylor’s goal — alongside other local soccer leaders — is to help create an independent foundation that will support youth soccer across Idaho, eliminating the financial barriers that keep many talented kids from advancing.
Local club loyalty will remain intact, while AC Boise’s support helps elevate the valley’s top talent into “all-star” development environments through existing pathways such as the Olympic Development Program (ODP).
The system is envisioned to include boys’ and girls’ programs at U14, U16, and U20, with:
- • Professional-level coaching
- • Education and training for local youth coaches
- • College placement support
- • Pathways to professional opportunities
To truly understand the impact, you have to see it: professional soccer will be in kids’ backyards starting March 2026 — a genuine game-changer for Idaho youth with big talent, drive, and dreams.
“The goal isn’t just to create professionals,” Taylor says. “Soccer offers identity, community, and opportunity. Even kids who don’t go pro gain discipline, mentorship, and college pathways. We want every kid to have a chance, regardless of resources.”
Life, Legacy, and a New Chapter for Boise
As a neuroradiologist, Taylor witnesses life’s fragility every day — images that signal difficult conversations and life-altering moments for families. That perspective has shaped his belief in the power of shared experiences and strong communities.
And that’s exactly what he hopes AC Boise will provide.
Concerts. Matches. Gatherings. Thousands of people coming together in a place built for them.
“At this stage of my life, to be doing something this meaningful — and to have the energy for it — is a blessing,” Taylor says. “This is for my kids, my grandkids, and every family in the Treasure Valley.”
A Legacy in Motion
From a barefoot kid on Hawaiian fields to Vice President of U.S. Soccer, from diagnosing brain scans to building a professional sports franchise, Bill Taylor’s life embodies Pelé’s timeless words:
Success is no accident.
It comes from love — love for the game, love for community, and love for building something that lasts.
And now, as Boise prepares for its first professional soccer season, one thing is clear:
This is only the beginning.
