CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah Athletics is excited to announce the hiring of Taylor McQuillin as the new assistant coach for the Thunderbirds softball team. McQuillin, a distinguished former pitcher and professional athlete, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success both on the field and in coaching.
Head Coach Don Don Williams Said
"Taylor is one of the top pitchers in our game today. In her collegiate and professional career she has been coached by the best and is a proven winner. With her ability to invest in our players and develop them on and off the field, she will help elevate our program."
Taylor McQuillin's impressive credentials include a standout collegiate career at the University of Arizona, where she was a four-year scholarship athlete and a 2019 NFCA First Team All-American. McQuillin also achieved significant accolades, including three-time NFCA All-Region and four-time All-PAC12 selections. She led the NCAA in 2018 in shutouts with 15 and was a top 25 finalist for USA Player of the Year in 2017.
In addition to her collegiate accomplishments, McQuillin has extensive experience in professional softball. She plays professionally with Athletes Unlimited and is one of the veteran players, having been with the league since it began in 2020. She ranks second in this season's point total and was selected as a captain for week two.
McQuillin has competed internationally, including as a member of the Mexican National Olympic Team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. McQuillin has also played in Japan's JD League for two seasons, where she helped her team, Hitachi Sundiva, achieve consecutive postseason runs.
McQuillin's coaching experience began at her alma mater, Arizona. While there, she served as a graduate assistant, helping to develop the battery. She collaborated with the coaching staff to enhance overall player performance. She helped the team to a 41-15 record and a Women's College World Series run.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
SUU's softball team is coming off its most successful season in a decade, finishing with a record of 21-29. The Thunderbirds made notable strides in nearly every aspect of the game from the previous year. The team's batting average saw a 20-point improvement, and their slugging percentage increased by almost 50 points. The Thunderbirds also doubled their home run total and scored 74 more runs than they did in the 2023 season. On the pitching side, the team dramatically improved its ERA, cutting it in half and allowing 42 fewer runs than the prior season. A standout performer, freshman pitcher Emily Delgado, led the way by striking out 101 batters, surpassing the previous team total by herself.
With McQuillin's addition, the Thunderbirds look forward to an exciting new chapter in their program's history. They aim to continue their upward trajectory and achieve even greater success in the coming seasons.
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