Taylor, 39, told Scoringlive.com he informed Punahou's athletic directors of his decision last Friday and met with the players on Tuesday.

"Every year I evaluate my situation, and in my heart now is the right time for me to give back to my family and spend more time and energy on my kids," said Taylor, who has 12-year-old twins. "Being head coach of this program has been fabulous, and the people who always stood by me were my family, they let me pursue my dream."

Taylor said an awakening experience came this past season when he missed a regular season game to watch his son, Logan, play basketball in Hilo.

"He came up to me afterward and said 'Thanks for missing the (ILH) game and coming to Hilo to watch me play,' " Taylor said. "To hear him say that was a real eye-opener. I told him no problem, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The twins are 12 now, and they'll be gone (off to college) in six years. There's no good time to stop coaching, but right now this is the right thing to do."

Taylor started coaching at Punahou almost immediately after graduating from there in 1990, starting with the JV boys and intermediate girls. He was an assistant under varsity girls coach Shelley Kahuanui Fey from 1996 to 1998 and was girls head coach at Maryknoll in 1999 and 2000 before returning to Fey's staff in 2001.

Taylor took over the program the following year, guiding the Buffanblu to the state championship game. They lost to Kamehameha, but won it all three of the next four years before taking the crown again in 2008.

"I loved it, he was a great coach," said Shawna-Lei Kuehu, a current starting guard for the University of Hawai'i who helped Punahou win state titles in 2005, 2006 and 2008. "He knew what he was talking about and cared about the players on and off the court. I fell in love with the program because of the competition -- he expected the best and nothing less. That's what he instilled in us, to always do your best and never give up."

The Buffanblu returned to the state championship games in 2009 and this past season, falling to Konawaena both times.

Taylor said he expects Punahou to post the opening and conduct a search for his successor. In the meantime, he said he will still be involved with coaching through Dennis Agena's Kalakaua Foundation Clinic.

"I've been so privileged to have a chance to coach," Taylor said. "They all have been my favorite players."