DURHAM – Duke softball head coach Marissa Young announced the hiring of Taylor Wike as an assistant coach on Friday. Wike will serve as the team’s hitting and infield coach.
“This is a full circle moment and I am thrilled to welcome Taylor Wike to our coaching staff,” Young said. “Taylor was one of my favorite players to coach because of her passion, work ethic and tenacious desire to be great. Over the last five years, I’ve witnessed her translate those same qualities to coaching. Taylor is a winner in every sense of the word and I am eager to see the immediate impact she will have on our players.”
Wike joins the program after a four-year stint at Charlotte as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in 2022.
“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to work at Duke,” said Wike. “The success that Duke softball has had in such a short period of time is a testament to the work Marissa has put in and I can’t wait to join her and the rest of the staff. There is one more door to known down for Duke softball and I am excited to get to work.”
During her time with the 49ers, Wike played an important role in leading the program to its first ever Conference USA East Division title in 2021 and first appearance in the national polls in 2022. Wike’s coaching and leadership led to the development of many Charlotte student-athletes, including two-time Conference USA Player of the Year Bailey Vannoy. The fifth-year catcher also became the program’s first NFCA All-American, after garnering second team honors in 2022.
Prior to her time at Charlotte, Wike spent one season as a volunteer assistant coach at South Carolina. During her time with the Gamecocks, Wike helped guide them to a 38-19 overall record and reach the NCAA Regional finals for the fourth-straight season.
A 2018 graduate of North Carolina with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science, Wike had a standout softball career as a Tar Heel. The Hiddenite, N.C., native and Alexander Central product led the Tar Heels to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 2015 to 2017. She earned All-ACC honors in each of her four seasons, while starting a staggering 225 games. Wike was named the 2018 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. She was also a finalist for NFCA Freshman of the Year in 2015 and earned All-Southeast Region honors as a junior and a senior.