Taylor receives five-year contract extension

Louisiana Tech Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey announced Tuesday that the university has signed twotime Conference USA Softball Coach of the Year Josh Taylor to a restructured contract that will run through the 2029 season.

Taylor recently completed his third season in Ruston after taking over the program in the summer of 2021 following a five-year stint at Nevada. During Taylor’s three seasons at the helm in Ruston, he has led the Bulldogs to 103 victories, including three consecutive 30-plus win seasons. Taylor’s 103 wins are the most among all CUSA coaches during their first three seasons at their current programs.

“We are committed to our investment in our softball program, and a big step in that investment is signing Josh to this five- year restructured contract,” said Ivey. “ Josh has proven in his three years in Ruston that he and his staff are committed to building our softball program the right way. And we want to do our part in investing in that common goal. We have high expectations for the program both on and off the field, and we feel Josh is the coach to accomplish those goals.”

The restructured fiveyear contract includes a new bonus structure, an increase in assistant coach salary pool, and additional resources that will provide stability and allow for growth for Bulldog softball.

“I am humbled and honored,” said Taylor. “I would like to thank President Jim Henderson and Ryan Ivey for entrusting me with the future of Louisiana Tech softball. I would also like to thank my coaching staff as any of my successes are a direct reflection of their knowledge and hard work.

“My coaching staff and I are excited about the future of this program and will work tirelessly to continue to build and grow this program into a championship caliber program year in and year out.”

During Taylor’s time in Ruston, he’s led the Bulldogs to the 2022 Conference USA Regular Season title and 39 wins in only his first season after inheriting a program that had won just 22 games the previous season and was coming off two straight losing campaigns.

Taylor earned the Conference USA Coach of the Year award in both 2022 and 2024, becoming the first Tech softball coach to earn a league Coach of the Year award multiple times.

This past season, Taylor led Tech to wins over league champions in ULLafayette (Sun Belt), San Diego State (Mountain West), McNeese (Southland – regular season) and Southeastern Louisiana (Southland – tournament champion). He also recorded victories against P5 programs in Georgia Tech and Illinois.

Taylor won his 100th career game at Louisiana Tech on April 27 at New Mexico State, becoming the secondfastest head softball coach in program history to reach the milestone.

While registering at least 32 games in each of his three years in Ruston, Taylor has seen 14 players earn all-Conference USA honors, including back-to-back CUSA Freshman of the Year in 2022 (Sierra Sacco) and 2023 (Allie Floyd).

Under Taylor’s watch Tech has also garnered six NFCA All-Mideast Region selections and eight College Sports Communicators All-District honorees.

The contract is pending approval of the University of Louisiana System Board of Directors.