Softball Completes Coaching Staff, Nadia Taylor Named Assistant Coach
7/25/2022 3:24:00 PM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State head softball coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley announced the completion of her coaching staff on Monday with the hiring of Nadia Taylor as an assistant coach. Taylor has spent the last nine years playing professionally in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF), Minamo Softball League and most recently, Athletes Unlimited.
"With nine years of professional playing experience, Nadia will bring a unique perspective to our coaching staff," McDonald-Kelley said. "Our players will be able to look to her as an example of what they want to achieve. Her work as a private hitting instructor has shown her ability to both teach and connect with young student-athletes."
Taylor joined Athletes Unlimited in 2020, posting 1,080 leaderboard points after hitting .273 with three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs over the 15-game championship season. In the 2021 championship season, Taylor improved her point total with 1,194 and ranked as the No. 26 player in the league. Taylor recently finished the 2022 AUX campaign with 832 points to finish 25th, tying for fourth in the league with five multi-hit games and hitting .378 overall.
In five seasons playing in the NPF, Taylor was twice named an All-NPF selection and earned the 2018 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award. Taylor appeared in 194 games over her five seasons, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 81 runners. The 2017 season saw her hit .321 with 30 hits and 10 home runs in 50 games for the Texas Charge.
Prior to her professional career, Taylor was a four-year letterwinner for the Texas Longhorns from 2009-12. Taylor earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region four times, including three First-Team selections. She earned All-Big 12 Conference honors in each of her four seasons, twice being named to the First Team. Taylor ranks fourth in Texas program history with 234 career games played, finishing her collegiate career with a .337 batting average along with 219 hits, 131 RBIs, 120 runs scored, 40 doubles and 32 home runs. Following the conclusion of her softball career at Texas, Taylor played one season on Texas' women's basketball team.
A native of Humble, Texas, Taylor owned and operated NT88 Sports Performance where she served as a hitting consultant prior to joining the Spartans.
"With nine years of professional playing experience, Nadia will bring a unique perspective to our coaching staff," McDonald-Kelley said. "Our players will be able to look to her as an example of what they want to achieve. Her work as a private hitting instructor has shown her ability to both teach and connect with young student-athletes."
Taylor joined Athletes Unlimited in 2020, posting 1,080 leaderboard points after hitting .273 with three doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs over the 15-game championship season. In the 2021 championship season, Taylor improved her point total with 1,194 and ranked as the No. 26 player in the league. Taylor recently finished the 2022 AUX campaign with 832 points to finish 25th, tying for fourth in the league with five multi-hit games and hitting .378 overall.
In five seasons playing in the NPF, Taylor was twice named an All-NPF selection and earned the 2018 Jennie Finch Empowerment Award. Taylor appeared in 194 games over her five seasons, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 81 runners. The 2017 season saw her hit .321 with 30 hits and 10 home runs in 50 games for the Texas Charge.
Prior to her professional career, Taylor was a four-year letterwinner for the Texas Longhorns from 2009-12. Taylor earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region four times, including three First-Team selections. She earned All-Big 12 Conference honors in each of her four seasons, twice being named to the First Team. Taylor ranks fourth in Texas program history with 234 career games played, finishing her collegiate career with a .337 batting average along with 219 hits, 131 RBIs, 120 runs scored, 40 doubles and 32 home runs. Following the conclusion of her softball career at Texas, Taylor played one season on Texas' women's basketball team.
A native of Humble, Texas, Taylor owned and operated NT88 Sports Performance where she served as a hitting consultant prior to joining the Spartans.
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