Taylor Waldrop enters her fourth season with the Piedmont softball program in the fall of 2021 after joining the program as an assistant coach in January 2019. Waldrop joined the Piedmont staff after her own four-year playing career at Tennessee Tech University.
In 2021, Waldrop's pitching staff soared to new heights, shutting down opponents on a regular basis, leading the USA South with a 1.77 ERA. She helped guide junior Martina Maloch to USA South Pitcher of the Year honors while freshman Emma McBrayer took home USA South Rookie Pitcher of the Year.
The Lady Lions posted a 6-7 mark in 2020 during the COVID-19 shortened season with wins over the #3 and #13 teams in the country. Piedmont also had a player named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National DIII Player of the Week when Micaela Quesada went 7-for-16 (.438) for the tournament with three homers, four walks and 10 RBI. All three home runs came against NFCA top-13 teams in Christopher Newport, Rowan and Randolph-Macon.
Waldrop is in charge of the pitching and catching staffs after she spent four seasons as a pitcher for the Golden Eagles. Waldrop helped guide the Lady Lions to a 31-12 mark in 2019 including the team hosting its first NCAA Regional earning a regional finals appearance.
She also helped Melissa Eckman to USA South West Division all-conference honors giving her postseason honors from the league in all four years of her playing career.
In her senior season at Tennessee Tech, she led the team in starts and had a team-high 10 wins and 84 strikeouts. During her final season, Waldrop earned Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors and was named Pitcher of the Week by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
Outside of her playing career, Waldrop has been an assistant coach for Team SC Fastpitch Softball where she advised athletes in their recruitment and provided training to the pitching staff.
Waldrop earned a bachelor of science degree from Tennessee Technological University in 2018 in exercise science: fitness and wellness with a minor in coaching.
She is originally from Canon, Ga. and will assist Martin in all facets of the Lions softball program.
Last updated 7/21
