Taylor McQuillin’s first save of the season came in Chicago’s 4-3 win over Carolina, a moment that landed just a day before Utah announced she would join its staff as pitching coach. The Arizona standout brings a long resume across pro and international softba
When Taylor McQuillin walked into relief work for Chicago on Thursday, it didn’t look like a changing point at the time. The Bandits were in a 4-3 game against Carolina, and McQuillin delivered what she’s known for—control in tight innings.
She earned her first save of the season and the 10th of her six-year pro career. In 1 2/3 hitless innings, she struck out two. The timing was striking: it came a day after Utah announced the hiring of McQuillin as its pitching coach.
McQuillin arrives with deep roots in the game. A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., she was an All-American during her career at Arizona. Her professional softball resume spans National Pro Fastpitch, the Japan Diamond League, and the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.
Her international experience is equally wide. She has spent time with the Mexican Women’s National Softball Team—helping the squad qualify for and compete at the 2020 Olympics.
In the press release announcing her move, McQuillin framed the opportunity as more than a job change. “Utah is a special place and I am incredibly excited to be a part of it,” she said. “From my first conversations with the coaching staff. it was clear this is a group committed to excellence. growth. and building meaningful relationships. The passion of the coaching staff and the vision for the future both make this an incredible opportunity. I look forward to helping these talented athletes continue to develop and compete at the highest level while contributing to something great.”.
Her college story in Arizona is the kind that leaves numbers behind. During her time with the Wildcats. she recorded 80 victories and earned four straight all-conference selections—becoming the first Arizona pitcher to do it in more than a decade. In her senior season in 2019. she posted 24 wins. pitched to a 1.52 ERA. earned an NFCA First-Team All-American selection. and helped lead Arizona to the Women’s College World Series. When she left Tucson, she owned spots in the program’s top 10 in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched.
She also comes to Utah with coaching experience already rooted in pitching development. She began her coaching career at Arizona as a graduate assistant. In 2021. she played a significant role in developing the team’s pitchers and helping the Wildcats reach a 41-15 record and once again make the WCWS.
Since 2024, she has been on Southern Utah’s softball staff, and in 2025 she was promoted to associate head coach. With the Thunderbirds. she helped guide the 2025 team to a third-place regular-season finish in the WAC and a second straight WAC tournament appearance. Southern Utah finished 13-11 in conference play, and two players earned all-conference honors. The 2025 group also surged academically, with three players earning CSC Academic All-District honors.
At Arizona, the connection wasn’t just professional—it’s personal in the way coaching relationships often are. Taryne Mowatt-McKinney. McQuillin’s pitching coach at Arizona and now a member of the Bandits staff. described what she saw up close. “Having had the privilege of coaching Taylor. I have seen firsthand the passion. discipline. and leadership qualities that have fueled her success. ” Mowatt-McKinney said. “She’s always been a great player that knows the game and her ability to teach it has made her an outstanding coach. This is a well-deserved opportunity and I couldn’t be happier for her.”.
McQuillin’s time in Athletes Unlimited adds another thread to her resume. In 2024, she ranked fourth in the league’s point total. She was selected in the second round of the inaugural draft in 2025, and during the 2025 campaign she recorded four saves and tied for the league lead.
The sequence is already clear: a season milestone on the mound in Chicago, then a new role shaping pitchers in Utah. Now, the focus shifts from what McQuillin has done as a player to how she’ll build hitters’ weaknesses and help a new group develop—starting with her first days as pitching coach.
Taylor McQuillin Utah softball pitching coach Chicago Bandits Carolina former Arizona ace Mission Viejo Southern Utah Athletes Unlimited Mexico women's national softball team 2020 Olympics