Assistant Coach Taylor Dugas

Three seasons into his Northwestern State tenure, former New York Yankee Taylor Dugas continues to imprint his stamp on the Demons’ offense and outfield.

In each of Dugas’ three seasons as NSU’s hitting coach, the Demons have produced an All-Southland Conference selection, including the 2018 Southland Conference Player of the Year David Fry, who also earned All-Louisiana Hitter of the Year honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and was named a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball.

That success continued in the 2019 season as junior outfielder Tyler Smith earned third-team all-conference honors after slugging 10 home runs and driving in a team-best 36 runs. Smith’s 10 home runs marked the third straight season NSU had a double-figure home run hitter, the longest stretch for the Demons in the BBCOR era.

In two seasons working with Dugas, Fry batted .333 with 47 doubles, 22 home runs and 95 RBIs. Fry slugged .598 in his final two seasons as a Demon and produced the only two 20-double, 10-home run seasons in school history. Dugas’ hitters cranked 50 home runs in his second season, the program’s highest total in the eight years of the BBCOR era. The 50 home runs were part of NSU’s 172 extra-base hits, a total that led the Southland Conference.

Dugas also tutored Kwan Adkins, who had 77 hits in his senior season, to a third-team All-Southland Conference honor and the San Francisco Giants’ 30thround selection in the 2018 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Dugas’ defensive teaching helped Tyler Smith tally 12 outfield assists as a sophomore while the NSU outfield collected 24 assists as a unit. In three seasons under Dugas’ defensive tutelage, Smith has recorded 22 outfield assists.

While working with the Demons hitters and outfielders in 2017, Dugas helped Fry compile the first 20-double, 10-home run season in program history. Thanks to a season in which he batted .340 and won the team’s triple crown, Fry was named the first-team American Baseball Coaches Association All-South Central Region first baseman and second-team All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana.

As the Demons outfielders coach, Dugas was pivotal in the development of a group of young players that, at times, saw freshmen comprising all three outfield spots.

Dugas, a Lafayette native and Teurlings Catholic High product, was a fouryear letterman at Alabama, setting school records for hits (334), singles (235), doubles (67) and triples (18).

He was a two-time, eighth-round draft pick (Chicago Cubs, 2011, New York Yankees 2012) and reached the major leagues with the Yankees in 2015.

After signing with the Yankees organization in 2012, Dugas played four seasons, twice topping 100 hits.

During his professional career, Dugas batted .283 and drew 195 walks while striking out just 171 times.

“Taylor’s one of my all-time favorites that I’ve ever coached,” said head coach Bobby Barbier, who mentored Dugas during the latter’s career at Alabama. “He embodies the grit we’re trying to impart on our guys and how we want to play. He was a great hitter. He has tons of experience working with great hitting coaches. It’s a unique situation and a blessing to get someone of Taylor’s quality. It’s a great fit for us.”

Dugas and Brae Gaspard, daughter of former Northwestern State head coach and current Louisiana Tech assistant coach Mitch Gaspard, were married in December 2018. Coaching Experience Year School Position 2020 Northwestern State Assistant Coach 2019 Northwestern State Assistant Coach 2018 Northwestern State Assistant Coach 2017 Northwestern State Volunteer Assistant Coach Playing Experience 2009-12: Alabama 2012: Staten Island (SS A) 2013: Tampa (A Advanced)/Charleston (A) 2014: Trenton (AA)/Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA) 2015: Scranton-Wilkes Barre (AAA)/New York Yankees (MLB) Education B.BA., Business Administration, Alabama, 2012