Northwest Mississippi Community College Rangers

Whether it was his accomplishments on the field or his leadership as a coach, Taylor Walker has certainly left his impact on the Northwest baseball program.

A hometown native, Walker starred as a four-year letterman in both football and baseball at Senatobia High School, quarterbacking his team to the 2004 state championship and being named MVP of the game. He earned all-state honors and was named to the Clarion-Ledger's "Dandy Dozen Team" as a senior.

Walker decided to remain in town and spent two seasons at Northwest, playing under coaches Mark Carson and Bill Selby as a two-year starter and standout at shortstop. During his two seasons in a Ranger uniform, the baseball program compiled a record of 66-33-1 record, including just the fourth 40-win season in school history.

Also an NJCAA Academic All-American selection in 2007, Walker boasted a school-record .449 lifetime average with 135 hits, 94 runs scored, 87 RBIs, 32 doubles and 19 home runs. One of the most eye-popping stats, however, is the fact that in 351 career plate appearances, Walker struck out just 23 times, drawing 34 walks and 16 hit-by-pitches. 

Walker went on to play a pair of seasons at Southern Mississippi, helping the Eagles to their first-ever College World Series appearance in 2009. The Eagles finished with a 40-26 record, winning the Atlanta Regional and Gainesville Super Regional. USM also made a NCAA Regional appearance his senior season after winning the C-USA Tournament, finishing the year at 36-24.

A 2010 C-USA Preseason All-American, C-USA All-Tournament Team and C-USA All-Academic Team selection, Walker played and started in all 123 career games at USM, hitting .335 with 128 runs scored, 86 RBIs, 22 doubles, 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 23 attempts.

Walker received his bachelor's from USM in 2010 in sport management, with a minor in business, and masters from USM in sport coaching education in 2012. During that time, he returned to Northwest as a volunteer assistant baseball coach in 2011, before being promoted to a full-time role within the program in 2012.

During his coaching stint at Northwest, Walker served as a first base coach, infield instructor and helped with recruiting efforts. In his seven seasons as an assistant coach, Walker helped the Rangers to a 211-135 combined record and a postseason appearance in all seven seasons.

Today, Walker remains in Senatobia, where he sells insurance locally for State Farm Insurance Agent Ricky Price. He is married to the former Candis Gable of Senatobia and the couple have a five-year old daughter, Ryleigh Jane. They are also expecting another child in April.