Taylor Baynes rejoined the UWF staff as the assistant coach in the summer of 2022, after spending a season with the staff at Samford University.
In his first season back with the Argos, Baynes helped guide the squad to their seventh straight GSC Tournament appearance. He also aided in the breakout season of freshman, Hannah Harper, who was named to the All-GSC First Team, as well the NFCA and D2CCA All-South Region First Team squads. Erin Moon continued her prominent trajectory under Baynes as well as the catcher was the first at that position to be named first-team all-conference for UWF in 18 seasons, while also being named second-team all-south region by the NFCA.
At Samford, Baynes helped guide the Bulldogs to an overall record of 34-19, making it the first winning season since 2016. Samford posted a .265 team batting average, ranking third in the Southern Conference, and a .379 slugging percentage. The Bulldogs also captured a .338 on base percentage while recording 210 runs, 382 hits, 61 doubles, 30 home runs, and 180 RBIs during their standout 2022 season.
Baynes originally joined the UWF coaching staff in the fall of 2016, working alongside outfielders and infielders through the spring of 2021. Baynes was a part of the NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year in both 2017 and 2019, and the 2019 team he worked with set the program record for fielding percentage (.977).
His primary duties off the field included: recruiting and developing student-athlete progress, assisting in compliance, and the breakdown and editing of film. He was also a student assistant for the Argonaut softball program from 2016-2020 where he was involved with on-field coaching, skill development, and specialization of infield player development. Baynes was also involved in operations, managing field work, facilities, gear, and equipment.
Prior to his time as a student assistant, Taylor Baynes worked as a softball camp instructor for the University of West Florida, training and motivating potential student-athletes in the mechanics of softball. Baynes was also the point person for the planning, coordinating, and implementation of hitting and defensive lessons for the camps.
Baynes graduated from UWF in 2020 with an undergraduate degree in Fitness and Sports Coaching. He also attended Jefferson Davis Community College from 2013-2015 where he competed on the baseball team as a shortstop and on the mound as a pitcher. Before his time in college, Baynes attended Gulf Breeze High School where he was a standout student-athlete, lettering in baseball, soccer, and football.
