Bellinger Steps Down as Head Coach of Taylor Softball
UPLAND, Ind. – Taylor University’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Kyle Gould, announced on Friday that Erin Bellinger had resigned her post as head coach of the softball program after four seasons at the helm for the Trojans.
“Erin was our coach during the most successful time in program history,” stated Gould. “In her three seasons that were not cut short by Covid-19, Erin led the team to two NAIA National Tournaments and set a program record for the most wins in a season during the other. Aside from her success on the diamond, she was a great contributor to our athletic department and will be missed by us all.”
Bellinger led the Trojans to three winning seasons and a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances during her four campaigns in the dugout, concluding her tenure with 116 wins and 67 losses. Bellinger steps away with the second-most wins in program history and the best overall winning percentage in team history at .634.
“It has been a privilege serving the past four seasons as head coach for Taylor softball,” said Bellinger. “I would like to thank Kyle Gould and the Taylor administration for the opportunity they gave me to lead this fine program.”
Highlights for TU during the Bellinger era include NAIA National Tournament bids in 2019 and 2022, four-straight top-four finishes in the Crossroads League standings and recognition in the receiving votes portion of the NAIA Top-25 Poll in all four seasons.
While leading Taylor to winning seasons in each of her first three years, Bellinger’s finest work came in the 2021 season when she led the Trojans to a program-record of 43 victories that included six wins over nationally-ranked foes.
Additionally, Bellinger saw her student-athletes pile up 14 All-Crossroads League awards while ranking near the top of the NAIA with 15 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. In that time, the Trojans also notched 28 NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards with that number set to climb when the 2021-2022 awards are announced later this summer.
A national search for the next head coach of Taylor softball will begin immediately.
Gould added, “We look forward to finding the right leader for this program moving forward and believe the best days of Taylor softball are ahead of us.”
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