FERRUM, Va. -- Vice President for Athletics Cleive Adams has announced the hiring of MacKenzie Taylor as Assistant Softball Coach at Ferrum College. Taylor will work with first-year Head Coach Robbie Campbell as the Panthers prepare for the 2027 season.

Taylor brings collegiate playing experience, coaching experience, and a strong background in softball operations and athlete development to Ferrum. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration at Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina, where she was a four-year softball student-athlete and team captain.

During her playing career at Barton, Taylor earned Conference Carolinas All-Conference in 2026 as a scholarship student-athlete at Barton. She served as a coaching Intern with the Barton College softball program under Head Coach Melisa Shock. In that role, she assisted with pre-game preparation and team operations, supported post-game evaluations and performance reviews, helped coordinate recruiting camps, and assisted the coaching staff with practice and event logistics. She also managed social media accounts for the program.

Taylor also has additional experience with Perfect Game Softball, where she assisted with teaching and developing fundamentals, helped players develop skills through drills and instruction, and provided mentorship during camps and clinics. She also managed GameChanger scoring and live statistical tracking.

"MacKenzie is a tremendous addition to our softball program," said Campbell. "Her experience as a collegiate student-athlete, team captain, and coaching intern gives her a great understanding of what it takes to develop and support student-athletes. She has already gained valuable experience in recruiting, practice and game preparation, camps, and player development, and I know she will bring a great deal of energy and knowledge to our program. I'm excited to have her join our staff and help us build something special at Ferrum."

A native of Wilson, North Carolina, Taylor earned a Master of Business Administration at Barton College in July 2026. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Sports Management, with a minor in Business Administration, from Barton in 2025. She began official duties at Ferrum on September 1.