2025 Commencement Speaker Announced

In consultation with the senior class officers and sponsors, Eugene McDermott Headmaster David W. Dini announced the selection of Taylor Jenkins ’03 as the Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2025.

“We wanted a speaker who knew the St. Mark’s experience best and could relay a message that would stick with us as we go out into the world,” said Henry Estes ’25, senior class president. “Taylor’s path wasn’t straightforward, and that’s relatable for us—each of us is figuring out what comes next.“

A multi-sport athlete and team captain, Gold Crown-winning sports editor for The Remarker, and Red Barr Award recipient, Jenkins went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He began his NBA career as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs’ basketball operations department during the 2007–2008 season. Jenkins then served as an assistant coach for the Austin Toros, the Spurs’ NBA Development League affiliate, from 2008 to 2012 and was promoted to head coach for the 2012–2013 season. He later joined the Atlanta Hawks as an assistant coach, contributing to four consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. 

Following a season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Jenkins was hired as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019. During his six-season tenure, he became the franchise’s winningest coach with a 250–214 record. He led the team to three playoff appearances and earned recognition as the NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month multiple times.

Earlier this year, Jenkins served on the Alumni Association’s Leadership Speaker Series panel featuring current and former professional athletes and coaches who discussed the lasting impact of St. Mark’s, sports, and the qualities that form a good man.

“I was exposed to so many different sports here,” Jenkins said. “The education you get here is unbelievable, but the experiential learning is really special. St. Mark’s is about a standard of excellence in teamwork, commitment, discipline, and honor.”

Jenkins also encouraged students to “wake up every day being excited with what you do in life.”

Jenkins will deliver the Commencement address on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The ceremony will be livestreamed online.