North Carolina State University Athletics
Taylor Black Rejoins NC State Baseball Staff
7/6/2026 4:00:00 PM | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C.- NC State baseball head coach Chris Hart has announced Taylor Black as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, as unveiled on Monday. Black, who was previously an assistant at NC State from 2014-17, spent the past four seasons on staff with the Florida Gators.
During his three seasons on the NC State staff, the Wolfpack went to three straight NCAA Tournaments while turning in a 110-70 record. NC State batted .303 as a team in 2016 thanks to Black's contributions while hitting .271 or higher all three seasons. Black's presence also had a positive impact on the Wolfpack defensively, as evidenced by a combined .973 fielding percentage across his tenure.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be back at NC State," Black said. Â "I want to thank Chris Hart for the opportunity and the trust he has placed in me to join his first staff. He is one of the best coaching minds in baseball, and I was very fortunate to learn under him when I first got started. I am excited to get to work, developing players and building relationships on and off the field. My family and I are eager to return to Raleigh, a place we consider home."
Black also coached for the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League in 2014, which serves as a developmental summer league for college players. That followed a three-year professional career. Black played for the Philadelphia Phillies' Single-A affiliate, the Williamsport Crosscutters, in 2011 before competing for the independent Evansville Otters from 2012-13.
As a 16th-round MLB Draft pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2011, Black started 110 of a possible 111 games for the Wildcats during his two years in Lexington from 2010-11. Across those two seasons, Black served as the team's starting shortstop while batting .297 with 15 home runs, two triples, 22 doubles, 87 runs, 75 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.
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The Easley, S.C. native graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science in 2014.Â
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During his three seasons on the NC State staff, the Wolfpack went to three straight NCAA Tournaments while turning in a 110-70 record. NC State batted .303 as a team in 2016 thanks to Black's contributions while hitting .271 or higher all three seasons. Black's presence also had a positive impact on the Wolfpack defensively, as evidenced by a combined .973 fielding percentage across his tenure.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be back at NC State," Black said. Â "I want to thank Chris Hart for the opportunity and the trust he has placed in me to join his first staff. He is one of the best coaching minds in baseball, and I was very fortunate to learn under him when I first got started. I am excited to get to work, developing players and building relationships on and off the field. My family and I are eager to return to Raleigh, a place we consider home."
Black also coached for the Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League in 2014, which serves as a developmental summer league for college players. That followed a three-year professional career. Black played for the Philadelphia Phillies' Single-A affiliate, the Williamsport Crosscutters, in 2011 before competing for the independent Evansville Otters from 2012-13.
As a 16th-round MLB Draft pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2011, Black started 110 of a possible 111 games for the Wildcats during his two years in Lexington from 2010-11. Across those two seasons, Black served as the team's starting shortstop while batting .297 with 15 home runs, two triples, 22 doubles, 87 runs, 75 RBI, and 24 stolen bases.
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The Easley, S.C. native graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science in 2014.Â
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