Conference

CHICO – CHICO STATE Athletic Director Anita Barker announced today that former Chico State pitching coach Dave Taylor has been appointed the interim head coach for the Wildcat baseball program.

“I am thrilled that Dave has agreed to return to the Wildcat family and lead our baseball program,” said Barker. “Dave played a critical role during his eight years as assistant coach in building our winning tradition.  As head coach at CSLA he has proven his ability to create a winning program in a very short time.  I am certain that under Dave's leadership, Chico State baseball will continue as a powerful force in Division II baseball.”

During Taylor’s eight years on the Wildcat coaching staff (1997-2004), he helped lead the Wildcats to NCAA Division II titles in 1997 and 1999 and an NCAA runner-up finish in 2002. The Wildcats also advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series in 1998 and 2004 for a total of five World Series trips during Taylor’s tenure.

Taylor left Chico State after the 2004 season for the head coaching position at Cal State L.A., where he took a struggling sub .500 program to the NCAA tournament in two seasons. Taylor’s Golden Eagles reached the championship game of the 2006 West Regional. Taylor compiled a record of 58-39-1 at CSLA.

“The opportunity to return to Chico State was one that I just could not pass up,” said Coach Taylor. “After spending eight years there, I really feel a connection to the people at Chico State as well as the community. The Chico State baseball program is the top D-II program in the West Region and consistently competes for a national championship. My job is to maintain that consistency and put our players in an environment where they can achieve their goals academically as well as athletically.”

As pitching coach at Chico State, Taylor mentored three CCAA Pitchers of the Year over a six-season span and a total of eight All-Americans. In addition, his pitching staff led the CCAA conference in earned run average each year after joining the CCAA in 1999.

Prior to joining the coaching staff at Chico State, Taylor spent three years at Wyoming (1994-96), including head coach for the 1995 and 1996 campaigns. Taylor was named WAC Coach of the Year in 1996 when he led the Cowboys to a 36-20 record in what had already been announced as the final year of the Wyoming baseball program. Taylor’s overall record as a head coach stands at 115-94-1 over four seasons.

Taylor played collegiately at Oxnard Community College before transferring to the University of Arizona for the 1985-86 seasons, including Arizona’s 1986 College World Series championship campaign.

He went on to play two seasons of minor league baseball in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization, advancing as high as double-A and earning the Brewers’ Minor League Catcher of the Year award in 1987 before retiring as a player.

Taylor earned his bachelor’s degree in social science from Cal Lutheran in 1989 and his master’s degree in physical education from Chico State in 2004. He and his wife, Robin, have two sons, Mark and Jack.