by TURKEYCREEK on Thu May 17, 2007 8:29 pm
Wofford head baseball coach Steve Traylor announces retirement
SPARTANBURG, SC -- Wofford head baseball coach Steve Traylor today announced that he plans to retire from coaching at the conclusion of the 2007 season. Traylor plans to remain at Wofford and continue to teach in the physical education department and direct the campus intramural/recreation programs.
Traylor, who ranks among the top 30 active NCAA coaches in America with 769 victories, has spent 27 seasons as a college head coach and has compiled an all-time record of 769-667-3. Traylor entered the 2007 season ranked 29th in career victories among college coaches with at least five years as a head coach.
Traylor became Wofford’s head coach prior to the 2000 season. After spending the first four seasons playing in Spartanburg’s Duncan Park, Traylor and the Terriers moved into Russell C. King Field prior to the 2004 season. During his tenure at Wofford, Traylor has coached one Academic All-America player, two Freshman All-Americans, six All-Southern Conference selections and had 17 players selected to the Academic All-Southern Conference team. He has compiled a record of 145-274 in eight seasons at Wofford
"The eight years I have spent coaching baseball at Wofford have been extremely gratifying," said Traylor. "We have had many talented student-athletes earn their degrees from Wofford and I am glad that I was able to be a part of the baseball program."
Traylor cited time with his family as a reason for his decision to step down. His daughter Danielle, 18, will be a college freshman in the fall and his son, Ryan, 16, is a rising junior at Spartanburg High School where plays baseball.
"Being a college coach is more than a full-time job," said Traylor. "Between coaching and recruiting, we miss a lot of time with our families, both in-season and during the off-season. Stepping down at this time will afford me the opportunity to participate in my daughter’s college experience, spend more time with my wife and watch my son play baseball."
"We are very appreciative of Coach Traylor’s efforts over the last eight years," said Athletics Director Richard Johnson. "His record of nearly 800 wins speaks for itself. He has successfully built programs at Florida Atlantic and Duke and he did the same with the Wofford. Coach Traylor has always placed a high value on academic achievement and his student-athletes met those goals. He was instrumental in bringing baseball back on campus with the construction of Russell C. King Field/Switzer Stadium. I believe Coach Traylor has set a solid foundation for the future of the Terrier baseball program."
Wofford will conduct a national search to find its next baseball coach.