PEORIA, Ill. -- Bradley Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh announced Monday that second-year softball head coach Venus Taylor has resigned, citing personal reasons.
Taylor led the Braves to a 45-64 record over the past two seasons, including a 14-38 record in Missouri Valley Conference play. In her first season on The Hilltop, she led the Braves to a 29-29 record, marking the first .500 season since 1995. Bradley finished tied for seventh place in 2004 in the final Missouri Valley Conference regular-season standings at 11-15.
“I have would personally like to thank everyone affiliated with Bradley,” Taylor said. “Working for Bradley was an experience I will forever be grateful for. I have chosen to accept another position due to both personal and professional reasons. I hope everyone can see the good in what we have done in a short time and understand and respect my decision.”
This spring the Braves finished the season with a 16-35 record and finished 10th in the Valley standings with a 3-23 league mark. During Taylor's tenure the Braves set school season records for doubles, home runs and fielding percentage.
“Although disappointed that we were unable to retain her services, we understand her family priorities and wish Venus the best,” Kavanagh said. “We have witnessed many program strides during the course of her two years and expect that the strong recruiting class that she has signed for next year will further demonstrate that she has left Bradley Softball in a much better overall position than it was prior to her arrival.”
Bradley also made improvements to the facility at Laura Bradley Park during the last two years adding a new batting cage, fencing, wind screens, permanent restroom and team locker room area. The Braves also used the Dragon's Dome in Pekin, Ill., as an indoor practice facility during the winter months this past season.
Bradley returns 13 of 17 letterwinners next season, including their top four hitters. The Braves also had six signees during the Fall Signing period in Alycia Bachkora (Overland Park, Mo./Notre Dame de Sion), Emily Bergeson (Cleveland, Ill./Geneseo), Ashley Birdsong (Otis, Ore./Taft), Brooke Boliver (Aubrey, Texas/Ryan), Katy Dammer (Lincoln Way East H.S.) and Kelly Ebner (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island). Bergeson is the younger sister of Bradley freshman Molly Bergeson and earned first-team all-state honors as a junior.
