Taylor Dugas, a former Alabama standout who earned multiple All-America honors during his Crimson Tide playing career, joined the Southeastern staff of coach Bobby Barbier in June of 2023.
Following a year in private business, Dugas returned to coaching as the Lions’ recruiting coordinator.
In his first season, Dugas helped put together a squad that established a program single-season record for home runs and posted its highest batting average in eight seasons. During the North Oaks Health System Southland Conference Baseball Championship, the No. 6-seeded Lions picked up a pair of wins and advanced to the semifinal round.
Brennan Stuprich, TJ Salvaggio and Shea Thomas each earned first-team All-Conference honors while left-handed pitcher Larson Fabre was named the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. Salvaggio and Thomas joined Rhett Rosevear and Jackson Rodriguez on the Southland’s All-Academic squad.
Four SLU hitters produced double-figure home run totals – Salvaggio (13), Parker Coley (12), Jude Hall (12) and Thomas (10) – as the Lions blasted 86 home runs as a team, besting the previous program record by three.
Hall, Coley and Justin Williams would each earn Southland Conference Hitter of the Week honors during the season, while Stuprich was named the conference’s Pitcher of the Week twice.
Prior to his arrival in Hammond, Dugas spent two seasons at UT Arlington serving as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach for the Mavericks.
In Dugas' first year with the Mavericks in 2021, UTA saw multiple players post career numbers. Andrew Miller and Dylan Paul both earned their first All-Sun Belt Selections. Miller and Paul, along with Connor Aube, Josh Minjarez, and Boone Montgomery all reached career-highs in home runs. Miller became the fourth Maverick to hit three home runs in a game, accomplishing the feat against Kansas.
That season also featured an eight-RBI game from Josh Minjarez - tying the program’s single-game record. The Mavericks finished with the sixth-most home runs in a single season, producing 47 home runs
Dugas came to UTA from Northwestern State, spending four seasons with the Demons. Dugas’ imprint on the Demons was evident, as NSU produced an All-Southland Conference selection in each of his three seasons as hitting coach. In 2018, Dugas coached the Southland Conference Player of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American David Fry.
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.
The Demons had one of their best offensive seasons in nearly a decade during Dugas’ second season in Natchitoches. The NSU batters hit 50 home runs, while leading the Southland Conference with 172 extra-base hits.
A native of Lafayette, Louisiana and product of Teurlings Catholic, Dugas set numerous program records as a four-year letterman at Alabama. He currently holds the Crimson Tide’s career records for hits (334), singles (235), doubles (67) and triples (18). During his college career, he averaged .360 at the plate with an on-base percentage of .466 and 125 RBIs.
He was drafted in the eighth round by the Chicago Cubs (2011) and New York Yankees (2012). 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. He reached the majors while playing in the Yankees organization in 2015.
“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 Alabama and Northwestern State head coach Mitch Gaspard, were married in December 2018.
THE DUGAS FILE
Coaching Career
2021-22: Assistant Coach, UT Arlington
2017-20: Assistant Coach, Northwestern State
Playing Career
Alabama: 2009-12, Freshman All-American (2009), All-American 2010, 8th-Round Draft Pick Chicago Cubs (2011), 8th-Round Draft Pick New York Yankees (2012)
Minor Leagues: New York Yankees (2012-16)
Personal
College: Alabama
Family: Wife - Brae
