CSU names Venus Taylor as new head softball coach

Charleston Southern Athletic Director Jeff Barber announced last week that Venus Taylor has been named the new head softball coach. 

Taylor comes to the Buccaneers with a wealth of coaching experience having served as the head coach at Judson University, as well as Bradley University and Lake City Community College.

“I am thrilled to be adding Venus Taylor to the Buccaneer family,” Barber said. “Her extensive background as a player both collegiately and professionally, along with her experience as a head coach and knowledge and passion for the game, will allow our program to grow to the championship level, which we are all striving for.”

Taylor spent four seasons as the head coach at Judson University amassing a 133-80-1 overall record with the Eagles. She posted successful campaigns in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference over her four years with an impressive mark of 64-28-1 in CCAC games. Each of her four seasons featured a berth to the NCCAA World Series and she added a pair of CCAC tournament appearances to her totals.

“I feel truly honored and blessed to be named the next Head Softball Coach at Charleston Southern University,” Taylor said. “I am excited to join the Buccaneer family and I look forward to leading and impacting the lives of our impressive student-athletes.”

She continued, “I would like to thank Jeff Barber for this incredible opportunity. He is a nationally respected athletic director with a track record of success and extraordinary vision. I am highly impressed with CSU as well as the degree of leadership offered with Dr. Costin and Jeff Barber at the helm. I have faith we have all the necessary ingredients to provide a championship culture on and off the field. Let’s go Buccaneers!”

Her prior NCAA Division I coaching stops include serving as the head coach at Bradley University from 2003-05 and as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech in the early 2000s. She added an NJCAA National Championship in 2001 at the helm of Lake City Community College.

Taylor took a break from coaching to serve as a Fastpitch Business Manager for Wilson Sporting Goods where she orchestrated national sales, branding, sponsorships, endorsements, and affiliations for Wilson, DeMarini and Atec brands to increase brand development and sales. She served as a key public, media and client relations officer for fastpitch brands leveraging relationships with professional, collegiate and grassroots organizations, as well as associations and governing bodies.

Taylor was successful in planning and launching large-scale marketing and advertisement initiatives, as well as grassroots events and tournaments to highlight new product, brands, and technologies.   She was a key member of the innovation team and led the execution and launch of the first-ever A2000 and A2K Fastpitch pro stock gloves. Venus negotiated and closed more than 125 collegiate sponsorship agreements with leading teams, including Michigan, Missouri, and LSU and in addition signed multiple Olympic Athletes. 

In 2011, Taylor continued to follow her passion as a coach, motivational speaker, and educational leader, which resulted in the creation of her softball consulting company, Taylor Made Softball.  Partnering with the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, IL, Taylor Made Softball was able to cater to young female athletes with a dream by way of providing opportunity, development, knowledge, and encouragement.

Taylor starred in her playing career at Western Illinois University from 1993-1997. During her time with the Leathernecks, she was a two-time team MVP, and an All-Conference and All-Region selection. She finished her playing career as the school’s record holder in numerous categories including hits, stolen bases, and runs scored. She was named the 1997 Western Illinois Female Athlete of the year, and in 2009 was inducted into the WIU Hall of Fame.

After graduating from college, Taylor was drafted by the now-defunct Women’s Professional Softball League and went on to play for seven years with three All-Star Appearances and two World Championship rings for the 1999 Tampa Bay Firestix and the 2002 New York New Jersey Juggernauts.

Related Stories