Lacey Taylor enters her second season as an Assistant Coach for the Lady Buffs after making the transition from the field to the dugout in 2017 as the former Lady Buff All-American joined the WT Softbal coaching staff. Taylor is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Sports Management from West Texas A&M after graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Sports & Exercise Science in May of 2016.
The Byers, Texas native was an instrumental part of WT’s continues success during her first season on staff in 2017 as the Lady Buffs claimed the program’s fourth Lone Star Conference Tournament Title and hosted the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for the fifth straight season. The Lady Buffs hit .371 as a team with 120 doubles, 10 triples and 98 homeruns to drive in 401 RBI for an incredible slugging percentage of .667.
Taylor became the fourth player in program history to have her number honored on the outfield wall at Schaeffer Park on Saturday, February 11th as her No. 23 joined Kim LeComte (10), Alyssa Lemos (3) and Renee Erwin (34).Â
Taylor cemented herself as one of the top players to ever wear the Maroon & White as she registered an overall record of 208-36 (.853) during her career to become the winningest Lady Buff in history alongside fellow four-year senior Brittany Gehle. Taylor led WT to an overall record of 95-19 (.833) in Lone Star Conference play to claim three straight LSC Titles along with a pair of LSC Tournament Titles.
The Lady Buffs turned Schaeffer Park into one of the best home environments in the country as WT went an incredible 125-16 (.887) in Canyon during Taylor’s career, leading all of Division II in attendance in 2015 and 2016. WT hosted three NCAA South Central Regional Tournaments and two South Central Super Regionals in which WT won both and made a pair of appearances in the Division II College World Series, winning the 2014 DII National Championship.
She finished her career with 214 appearances and 197 starts as she registered a .362 batting average with 40 doubles, three triples and 30 homeruns to drive in 173 RBI for a slugging percentage of .619 while walking 140 times for an on-base clip of .499. Behind the plate, she registered the second highest fielding percentage in program history (.944) and ranking fourth in putouts (775) with just five errors in four seasons.
