Athletic Director Sandi Taylor Announces Retirement After 30 Years As A Renegade

Athletic Director Sandi Taylor Announces Retirement After 30 Years As A Renegade

Bakersfield, CA – Longtime Renegade Softball Head Coach and current Athletic Director Sandi Taylor has announced she will officially retire on June 25, ending a 30-year career at Bakersfield College.

"I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Renegade family as both a coach and athletic administrator for the last three decades. Looking back, I am proud of the progress we've made as a department and the strides we've taken to improve opportunities for our student athletes. Bakersfield College is a special place for so many people and I'm glad to have had the great opportunity over the years to further our mission of providing a first class student athlete experience", commented Taylor.

"Sandi Taylor's tenure as both a coach and administrator at Bakersfield College are marks of excellence that have left a lasting impact on the athletics department and the college. I am forever grateful for her steadfast diligence, going above and beyond her duties in ensuring the best for our Renegade student athletes. I can attest to her unwavering commitment, including many sleepless nights, in providing the best experience for our student athletes and fully supporting our coaches and staff. Sandi will be missed", said BC President Sonya Christian.

Taylor served as both Associate Athletic Director and Athletic Director at Bakersfield College for the past 24 years. In that time BC has captured many Western State Conference (WSC) championships across the 20 sports offered by the department.

"I want to congratulate Sandi on an extraordinary professional career", said Renegade head volleyball coach Carl Ferreira. "Her hard work and dedication to doing everything in a first class manner was inspirational, yet what I admired most was the unwavering high character she utilized to take our athletic department to new heights.  I personally want to thank her for being a friend and I wish that the next chapter of her life brings her endless time for new beginnings. Good luck Sandi!"

As Athletic Director she has overseen multiple facilities projects including the resurfacing of the BC Tennis Courts and the renovation of Memorial Stadium which included installing new Field Turf & Mondo track surfaces, the modernization of restrooms, lights, concession areas, press box and 42'x 50' HD video scoreboard (which included a $500,000 community donation). She also led the Design Build process of the new gymnasium complex, set to begin construction in May 2020, to replace the existing gymnasium and locker rooms. In addition, she expanded the department hiring seven new full-time faculty, a full-time Associate Athletic Director, two program managers, upgraded all classified employees and started two new athletics programs – Men's Soccer and Beach Volleyball. In her time, BC has hosted 9 CCCAA State Softball Championships, one CCCAA Track and Field State Championship, one CCCAA Southern Cal Wrestling Championship, one Southern Cal Men's Golf Championship, one CCCAA Football State Championship and numerous CCCAA regional competitions.

Taylor arrived at BC in August of 1990 to begin a lengthy tenure as the head softball coach. In that time she led the Renegades in capturing four conference championships and advancing to post-season play in 15 out of 23 years, winning 500 games overall. She coached four National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) players, four 1st-team All-Southern California players, seven 1st-team All-State players, 61 first team all-conference players, 39 second team all-conference players and 48 honorable mention players. In 1997 she was honored as the Southern California Coaches Association Coach of the Year and in 2005 she and her staff were awarded the NFCA Staff of Year Award. During that time she also represented the Western State Conference on the multiple committees including gender equity, appeals board, program review, executive board (serving as the vice president & president) and served as the sports representative for Women's Soccer. Additionally, Taylor has been a member of the CCCAA Management Council for four years representing Women's Golf.

Sandi Taylor with her team after win #500

One of her career defining projects was the BC softball field. From not having a softball outfield fence to being awarded the NFCA JC Field of the Year award in both 2010 & 2019, she oversaw every aspect of its development through much blood, sweat and tears. On Feb 4, 2010 after a $250K community donation, the field was re-opened as the Dean and Adah Gay Sports Complex. To this day, the field is arguably the best softball field in all of junior college athletics. It has hosted nine of the last ten CCCAA State Softball Championships.

Overall she coached for 31 years, starting her career in 1983 as the head softball and volleyball coach at Tulare Western High School. At the end of her softball coaching career she compiled 588 career wins.

An accomplished college athlete, Taylor played in the first Women's College World Series of softball while playing for the Fresno State Bulldogs, who finished as runners up that year. She was a three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball and softball) while attending College of the Sequoias, winning conference titles in five out of six seasons of competition as a COS student athlete. Taylor graduated with an AA degree from College of Sequoias as well as a B.A. and M.A. in Physical Education from Fresno State University.

A nation-wide search for the next athletic director is already underway.

Stay connected with Renegade Athletics on social media. Follow us on Facebook, TwitterInstagram.