Taylor Baseball Staff Lauded by ABCA, Barber Named NAIA Assistant Coach of the Year
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following a historic 56-win season and thrilling run to the NAIA World Series championship game, the Taylor University baseball program continued to rack up postseason awards as Justin Barber was named the 2026 NAIA National Assistant Coach of the Year, announced Thursday by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Additionally, head coach Kyle Gould was tabbed one of 10 NAIA Regional Coaches of the Year.
The honors capped an incredible season for the Trojans, finishing 56-7 overall, including a program-record 33-3 mark in the Crossroads League, and set program highs for wins and winning percentage (.889). The Trojans climbed to a program-best No. 1 national ranking, held the top spot for two months and reached the NAIA World Series championship game for the first time, finishing as national runner-up.
TU started fast, opening 11-0 for the first time in program history. The Trojans were 22-3 through 25 games and 27-3 through 30, both the best starts the program has recorded, and matched their longest win streak at 24 games. Their 45 regular-season wins were also a program high, and they beat six ranked opponents along the way. The lineup rewrote the program's offensive record book, setting single-season marks for batting average (.350), runs (690) and home runs (105), among others.
The end-of-season accolades stacked up for the TU baseball squad, highlighted by pair of All-Americans and five Academic All-Americans (most among all college levels). The Trojan roster featured 11 all-conference selections while Gould was named Crossroads League Co-Coach of the Year.
The season was part of a broader run of success for the TU baseball coaching staff. Each of the past five seasons has produced at least 40 wins, and the program has reached the NAIA National Tournament in each of them. The Trojans claimed a fourth straight Crossroads League regular-season title and a third straight league tournament championship in 2026 before advancing to the NAIA World Series for the third time in program history. The success extends across Gould's 22 seasons leading the program, a stretch that includes 19 consecutive winning records.
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.