Rucker Taylor
Rucker Taylor Joins Davidson Baseball Coaching Staff
8/1/2012 11:36:00 AM | Baseball
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Rucker Taylor has joined the Davidson baseball program as an assistant coach, head coach Dick Cooke announced Wednesday.
Taylor spent the last six seasons on the Samford coaching staff, serving as the outfield coach and assisting with hitting and the infielders. He was also responsible for coordinating the placement of players in summer leagues and opponent scouting, and was the staff alumni liaison. Taylor also hosted and coordinated numerous summer and fall tournaments at Samford and assisted with recruiting.
“I'd like to give thanks to God for this opportunity and thank head coach Dick Cooke and Director of Athletics Jim Murphy for the chance to be part of such a well-respected institution,” said Taylor. “I am incredibly excited about the educational and athletic possibilities here at Davidson. I am looking forward to being a part of the development of the leaders of tomorrow, while competing in one of the best baseball conferences in the country.”
This past season, Taylor helped lead the Bulldogs to a school-record 41 wins, as well as the program's first-ever Southern Conference title and NCAA Tournament bid. Samford also had seven players drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft off of the 2012 squad and two more players sign free agent contracts. Outfielder Brandon Miller was named an All-American and became the highest drafted player in Samford history, while Miller and outfielder Philip Ervin were both named all-conference along three other hitters.
Taylor replaces Tod Gross, who took a head coaching position at Muhlenberg College.
"We're extremely pleased that Rucker is joining us,” said Cooke, who will be entering his 23rd season at the helm of the Wildcat baseball program. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from his six years as an assistant coach at Samford University and from his time as a player at Vanderbilt."
Following the 2011 season, Samford had four players drafted in the MLB Draft, and the Bulldogs reached the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament for the first time. The 2011 team won a then-school-record 37 games with two of Taylor's outfielders earning places on the All-Southern Conference team. OF Philip Ervin was also named a Freshman All-American.
In 2010, Taylor helped lead the Bulldogs to an 8.5-game turnaround in SoCon play from the 2009 season. The team set school records for runs, hits, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage and runs batted in. In 2007, he held an administrative role with the Samford baseball program.
Taylor is a 2006 graduate of Vanderbilt University. At Vanderbilt, he saw significant starting time at second base, shortstop and designated hitter, and played on two NCAA Regional teams. In 2004, he was a member of the first Vanderbilt team to reach a Super Regional. He was named to the SEC academic honor role for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. Taylor was among the team leaders in fielding percentage each of his four years and finished with a career .965 fielding percentage.
He was among Commodore leaders in on-base percentage in his final two seasons, posting percentages of .397 and .429, respectively. In 2005, he was second in the conference in hit-by-pitches.
“I'd like to thank the many people that have helped me to this point, including but certainly not limited to my parents, my college coaches, Tim Corbin and Derek Johnson, high school coach Tony David, and Casey Dunn for giving me the opportunity to be a college coach,” said Taylor.
Taylor, a native of Montrose, Ala., had a stellar high school career at Bayside Academy, where he still holds numerous single season and career records. He earned his M.B.A. degree from Samford in 2008.
Taylor spent the last six seasons on the Samford coaching staff, serving as the outfield coach and assisting with hitting and the infielders. He was also responsible for coordinating the placement of players in summer leagues and opponent scouting, and was the staff alumni liaison. Taylor also hosted and coordinated numerous summer and fall tournaments at Samford and assisted with recruiting.
“I'd like to give thanks to God for this opportunity and thank head coach Dick Cooke and Director of Athletics Jim Murphy for the chance to be part of such a well-respected institution,” said Taylor. “I am incredibly excited about the educational and athletic possibilities here at Davidson. I am looking forward to being a part of the development of the leaders of tomorrow, while competing in one of the best baseball conferences in the country.”
This past season, Taylor helped lead the Bulldogs to a school-record 41 wins, as well as the program's first-ever Southern Conference title and NCAA Tournament bid. Samford also had seven players drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft off of the 2012 squad and two more players sign free agent contracts. Outfielder Brandon Miller was named an All-American and became the highest drafted player in Samford history, while Miller and outfielder Philip Ervin were both named all-conference along three other hitters.
Taylor replaces Tod Gross, who took a head coaching position at Muhlenberg College.
"We're extremely pleased that Rucker is joining us,” said Cooke, who will be entering his 23rd season at the helm of the Wildcat baseball program. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from his six years as an assistant coach at Samford University and from his time as a player at Vanderbilt."
Following the 2011 season, Samford had four players drafted in the MLB Draft, and the Bulldogs reached the finals of the Southern Conference Tournament for the first time. The 2011 team won a then-school-record 37 games with two of Taylor's outfielders earning places on the All-Southern Conference team. OF Philip Ervin was also named a Freshman All-American.
In 2010, Taylor helped lead the Bulldogs to an 8.5-game turnaround in SoCon play from the 2009 season. The team set school records for runs, hits, doubles, home runs, slugging percentage and runs batted in. In 2007, he held an administrative role with the Samford baseball program.
Taylor is a 2006 graduate of Vanderbilt University. At Vanderbilt, he saw significant starting time at second base, shortstop and designated hitter, and played on two NCAA Regional teams. In 2004, he was a member of the first Vanderbilt team to reach a Super Regional. He was named to the SEC academic honor role for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. Taylor was among the team leaders in fielding percentage each of his four years and finished with a career .965 fielding percentage.
He was among Commodore leaders in on-base percentage in his final two seasons, posting percentages of .397 and .429, respectively. In 2005, he was second in the conference in hit-by-pitches.
“I'd like to thank the many people that have helped me to this point, including but certainly not limited to my parents, my college coaches, Tim Corbin and Derek Johnson, high school coach Tony David, and Casey Dunn for giving me the opportunity to be a college coach,” said Taylor.
Taylor, a native of Montrose, Ala., had a stellar high school career at Bayside Academy, where he still holds numerous single season and career records. He earned his M.B.A. degree from Samford in 2008.
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