Cyrena Taylor is in her fifth year as a member of the Chico State softball coaching staff. Her transition from player to coach has been a successful one, to say the least—in two-and-a-half seasons working with head coach Angel Shamblin, Taylor has helped guide the Wildcats to an 87-36 record, two California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths.
Taylor joined the coaching ranks immediately after wrapping up an impressive college career; her last three as a Wildcat. The Rancho Cucamonga product batted .339 in 2018 and helped lead Chico State to the program’s first CCAA title, the NCAA West Region crown and an appearance in the NCAA Championship Finals. For her efforts, Taylor earned All-CCAA and All-West Region honors.
Taylor was named the CCAA Newcomer of the Year in 2016, along with All-CCAA and All-West Region honors after batting .373 and setting a Chico State single season record with 19 doubles. She currently ranks fourth in program history in career batting average (.355), sixth in slugging percentage (.535), ninth in doubles (34) and extra-base hits (44), and 10th in runs batted in (81).
Before coming to Chico, Taylor starred at Odessa College in Odessa, Texas, twice earning All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference honors and selected to the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region V Team.
A 2013 graduate of Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Taylor led the Grizzlies to two straight Baseline League championships.
Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Chico State in 2018.
