Position: Assistant Softball Coach
Years at EIU: 3rd season (hired August, 2013)
Alma Mater: Cleveland State, 2003
Stephanie Taylor rejoined her former teammate and long-time mentor as she joined EIU skipper Angie Nicholson's softball staff as an assistant coach during the late summer of 2013.
She helped lead the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in back-to-back years as EIU finished in third place overall and second in the West Division during the 2014 campaign. The Panthers followed their stellar year with another run in the OVC tournament entering the postseason as the No. 6 seed during the 2015 season.
A 2003 Cleveland State graduate, Taylor follows Nicholson to EIU after previously coaching alongside her former teammate at their alma mater the past six seasons. While at CSU, Taylor worked primarily with hitters and catchers, while also assisting with recruiting.
“Stephanie and I obviously know each other very well,” said Nicholson. “I am so exciting to have her join me at Eastern, where she’ll continue to work a lot with the catchers, and also join me in developing our hitters, since she knows my philosophy and is very comfortable teaching that."
“Stephanie is an incredibly hard worker,” Nicholson added. “Plus she’s funny and an enjoyable person to have around. She’s always happy to help in any way she can and immediately knows what I want and need, which is great. But most importantly, we trust each other and are very loyal to one another, which is something you need as a coach.”
Additional duties that Taylor will provide at EIU will include setting up all Panther travel arrangements and being in charge of communications with parents, while also naturally heavily involved in recruiting.
During her tenure with the Vikings, Taylor helped lead CSU to 178 victories, including a 44-win campaign in 2010. She also helped the Vikings advance to three trips to the Horizon League Championship title game, ultimately earning the league crown and subsequent NCAA Regional Berth in 2009.
The duo of Nicholson and Taylor guided multiple Vikings to numerous Horizon League accolades, including coaching two Players and Newcomers of the Year, three Pitchers of the Year, and seven First Team, 12 Second Team, and nine All-Newcomer Team members.
Prior to CSU, Taylor served as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan University during the 2003-04 season, where she helped the Chippewas to a 32-19 record, the regular-season Mid-American Conference Championship and also a berth in the NCAA Regional.
A two-time second team all-conference selection and four-year letter winner, Taylor earned the 2003 Varsity "C" Club award as the Most Outstanding Player on the team.
Taylor was also recognized for her scholastic achievements as she received the Faculty Athletic Representative's Special Academic Achievement Award in 2003 while also being named to the Verizon Academic All-District squad.
A .344 hitter with 18 RBI as a sophomore (52-for-151), Taylor hit .283 as a junior (34-120) and scored 10 runs and drove home 19. She closed her Viking career in grand fashion, winning the Horizon League batting title behind a 52-for-157 (.331) hitting mark with a team-high 24 RBI and 19 walks as a senior.
Taylor graduated as CSU's career leader in doubles (37), third in batting average (.319) and fourth in total hits (163).
She completed her coursework for a master's degree in sport management from Cleveland State in May, 2008.