Florida baseball’s coaching staff is undergoing another change.
Less than one week after pitching coach David Kopp’s firing, assistant coach and third base coach Taylor Black is seeking an opportunity at his former program NC State, according to Swamp247’s Graham Hall.
Black previously worked with the Wolfpack as an assistant coach from 2014 to 2017 before joining the Gators in 2022. D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reports that he will serve as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
Greatest Gators Moments Bracket
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Matchup 1
3
Gymnastics Three-Peat (2013–15)
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6
Caeleb Dressel NCAA Career
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Matchup 2
2
2007 Men’s Basketball Title (Repeat)
vs.
7
Women’s Tennis Back-to-Back (2011–12)
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Black was essential to Gators’ transfer portal additions, recruiting of Dale Thomas (Coastal Carolina) and Hurston Waldrep (Southern Miss) in the 2022 offseason, Colby Shelton (Alabama) and Brody Donay (Virginia Tech) in 2023, and Blake Cyr (Miami) and Kyle Jones (Jacksonville) in 2024.
On top of his scouting prowess, Black developed bats, including Jac Caglianone and Luke Heyman, both a part of the seven Gators in 2024 who hit double-digit home runs for the first time since 1998.
While Black contributed to only four seasons in Florida’s 18-consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the Gators reached the College World Series in his first two seasons, finishing second to LSU in 2023 and losing in the semifinals after nearly missing the tournament in 2024.
Black played his final two collegiate seasons at Kentucky, starting 110 of 111 possible games for the Wildcats before the Phillies selected him in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft.
Category: Gators Baseball