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Taylor Steen was hired as the assistant baseball coach during the summer.
Steen has replaced former assistant coach Aaron Meade who now the head coach at Tarleton State University.
Previously, Steen was an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota–Crookston (UMC).
“Yeah, so I spent a year playing under Coach Fornelli at Emporia and then coached for him for a year there, so I got used to Kansas a little bit there,” Steen said. “(I am) definitely happy to be back in warmer weather here in Kansas. I like this place (and) I am excited to be down here and get to work on things.”
Before his time at the University of UMC, Steen was an assistant coach for current Head Coach Bob Fornelli at Emporia State University. Steen played baseball for three seasons while attending Indiana State University before his time at Emporia State.
Steen earned a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Emporia State in 2016.
Steen has spent time as an assistant coach for Fornelli previously and was happy to join him at Pitt State.
“(When I was) playing and coaching for Coach Fornelli at Emporia, I just knew his philosophies of things and he was telling me, when he originally called me, (about) the improvements that they’ve made on the baseball side of things here as far as facilities and all that kind of stuff,” Steen said. “I couldn’t have been more excited for the opportunity when he gave me that call. It was really a no-brainer for me.”
In a statement to the athletic department, Fornelli says he is excited about Steen joining the Gorillas.
“I am excited to have Taylor Steen join the Gorilla baseball family,” Fornelli said. “He’s a talented young coach and someone I’m very familiar with as a former player and assistant coach for me at Emporia. I think he’ll do a great job helping our continued growth at Pitt State. I’m also excited for Aaron Meade’s opportunity at Tarleton State. He’ll do a great job down there and we wish him all the best.”
Steen also said that baseball has always been a part of his life in some way.
“So, I went to Indiana State out of high school and I was there for three years and got into the sports management program right away,” Steen said. “(While) I grew up, my dad played professional baseball for a little bit… and my uncle played too, so (baseball has) kind of ran in my blood for a while. (I have) always had a love for the game and I was a catcher so being a catcher you have to learn all aspects of the game and I really liked the mental side of the game and that kind of stuff. So, I kind of knew from the get-go that I liked being around the guys and that baseball is basically all I love to do. So, it’s just something that my mind is on 24/7. If I can help these guys be better versions of themselves on and off the field, I feel like I’ve done my job…”
