The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with Taylor Hoagland
06.27.2014 | Softball
Former Texas legend was selected for her third USA National team
AUSTIN, Texas – For the 18th time in 19 years, the USA Softball Women's National Team will feature a Texas Longhorn. This year's selection once again will feature Taylor Hoagland, who will be making her third appearance representing the United States (2011, 2013).
In her four years (2010-2013) on the Forty Acres, Hoagland cemented her legacy as one of the most prolific offensive players in program history. Hoagland, who played third base as a Longhorn, still ranks as UT's all-time leader in home runs (58), runs scored (221), walks (178), slugging percentage (.708) and on-base percentage (.501), while placing in the top three in batting average (.365), stolen bases (88) and RBIs (149).
Hoagland's career earned her First-Team All-American and All-Big 12 honors her senior year, as she helped lead the Longhorns to the Women's College World Series. The Flower Mound, Texas native ended her career in Austin as a four-time all-league and all-region honoree.
Her time in Austin caught the attention of the USA Softball Women's National Team. In her previous stints wearing the red, white and blue, Hoagland won the 2011 World Cup, a gold medal from the 2011 Pan American Games and a silver medal at the 2013 World Cup. In the two tournaments in 2011, Hoagland helped lead the team by going a combined 10-for-20 with seven RBIs and one home run.
As a member of the team this summer, Hoagland will compete in exhibition games and three tournaments in preparation for the ISF Women's World Championships. The team will participate in the General Tire World Cup of Softball IX in Irvine, California July 7-13, the Canadian Open Fast Pitch International in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada July 15-21 and Italian Softball Week in Azzano, Italy August 6-10. The World Championships will take place in Haarlem, Netherlands on August 15-24.
Since graduating from UT, Hoagland has gone into coaching, as an assistant coach at Amherst College in Massachusetts.
The Texas legend recently caught up with TexasSports.com following her most recent National Team selection.
On representing the United States: It's so cool. It starts with your college. You represent The University of Texas and your state and then you take it to the next level and you are representing the United State of America. It's just something that is so much bigger than yourself. You add 16 other girls who are trying for the same dream. It's an incredible feeling.
On development from past USA Softball National Team selections: I think growing as a person and growing as a player, mentally and physically, has helped me return to the national team. My first year, I was only a sophomore in college and I was 18-19, so I definitely matured mentally. Again, going through my career at Texas and then coming to work with the coaches on the USA team has helped me physically and that whole aspect of the game as well. Also, I know how the system works, I know what they expect, I know what to expect.
On coaching: I love coaching. It's not something I thought I would do, but I love what I'm doing right now. It allows me to still play. So, as long as I do that, I'm going to stick with coaching. It's helped me as a player as well to be able to see both sides of the game. That's really helped me out.
On teams the USA will play this summer: I've played several of the teams that we'll be playing many times. The teams are always changing so much. I do know our toughest opponents that I have faced in recent years have definitely been Japan, Australia, and Canada. Those have been consistently great teams. There will also be a few teams that I have never played before, so that will be fun too.
On UT placing so many athletes on the national team throughout the years: I think it's just the expectation of the athletes that Texas brings in. I believe Texas has one of the greatest athletic programs out there in Division I college sports. I think they try to bring in the top-tier athletes that expect the most out of themselves on the field and in the classroom. When you bring in those people and those types of competitors, it will translate to whatever else they do in life. I think that sets Texas athletes apart as far as the national team goes. You have that competitive edge that kind of just stays with you.
