TYLER, Texas – UT Tyler Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson announced Tuesday that Associate Head Coach Taylor White has been named the next head coach of the Patriots baseball program.
 
"Coach White has earned this opportunity and I couldn't be more thrilled to have him leading our team," Ferguson said. "Not only is he an elite baseball mind and relentless recruiter, but he also loves this community and is a great fit in East Texas. Most of all, like his mentor Coach Porche, he's going to intentionally build relationships and pour into our student-athletes. He is in perfect alignment with our values and mission of molding our student-athletes into Champions of Character, Champions of  Competition, and Champions in their Careers. We're excited to support Coach White and continue the positive momentum that this program has produced in recent seasons."
 
White becomes the next leader of a program that has established itself among the nation's elite and has played an instrumental role in building that success since arriving in Tyler in August 2018. Over the past eight seasons, White has served as the Patriots' Associate Head Coach, overseeing hitters, infielders and baserunners while also serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. During his tenure, UT Tyler has emerged as one of the premier programs in Division II baseball, highlighted by back-to-back NCAA Division II College World Series appearances, Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament championships, and a program-record 50 victories during the 2026 season.
 
"Becoming the head baseball coach at UT Tyler is an incredible honor and a responsibility that I embrace with great excitement," White said. "I am eager to lead this program and invest in the growth of our student-athletes both on and off the field. We will continue to build a culture rooted in passion, toughness and selflessness while representing our university at the highest level. The future is bright, and I can't wait to lead and grow this program alongside our players, our university and the entire Tyler community."
 
Widely regarded as one of the top recruiters in Division II baseball, White has been a driving force behind the Patriots' rise to national prominence. His recruiting classes have consistently ranked among the nation's best, beginning with a 2019 class that was recognized among the Top 50 JUCO recruiting classes nationally. More recently, White orchestrated the No. 2-ranked transfer portal class in Division II prior to the 2025 season before assembling the nation's top-ranked transfer portal class entering the 2026 campaign. Those recruiting efforts helped fuel consecutive trips to Cary, North Carolina, and establish UT Tyler as one of the most talented rosters in the country.
 
White's impact has extended well beyond recruiting. Under his guidance, Patriots hitters and baserunners have rewritten the program record book, setting career and single-season marks in stolen bases, batting average, RBI, hits, runs scored and home runs. Throughout his coaching career, he has helped develop numerous professional baseball players, All-Americans and Academic All-Americans while earning a reputation as one of the top teachers and player developers in the game.
 
Prior to joining UT Tyler, White spent three seasons at Tyler Junior College, where he helped lead the Apaches to two NJCAA National Championships and three NJCAA World Series appearances. Following the 2018 season, he was named the ABCA National Assistant Coach of the Year for junior college baseball.
 
As a player, White was a standout at Fort Bend Baptist Academy, earning four all-state selections in baseball while also garnering all-state honors in football. He went on to play collegiately at the University of Houston, where he started all but one game at second base as a true freshman and finished his four-year career with a .273 batting average while appearing at every position except catcher, pitcher and center field.
 
White takes over as the fifth head coach in program history following Brent Porche and inherits a program coming off the most successful season in school history. The Patriots finished 50-14 in 2026, captured both the Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament championships for the first time, and advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series national semifinals as one of the final four teams remaining in the country. White also acknowledged the impact Coach Porche had on the program and the foundation that has been established over the last eight seasons.
 
"Having worked alongside Coach Porche for the past eight years, I have witnessed firsthand the culture he built, one centered around relationships, accountability, toughness and hard work," White said. "I am grateful for his friendship and mentorship over that time. Our goal remains the same: to develop outstanding young men, compete for championships and represent the UT Tyler community with excellence in everything we do. Coach Porche should be celebrated not only for the championships he helped bring to this program, but most importantly for the countless lives he has impacted during his time at UT Tyler."
 
Brent Porche, Former UT Tyler Head Baseball Coach
 
"Coach White is without a doubt the right man for the job. I applaud Dr. Ferguson for seeing what I've seen in him for the last eight years. He works extremely hard, loves his players and will continue to elevate this program, just from a new role now. I'm so proud of him and happy for him, and extremely excited to watch him succeed!"
 
Will Davis, Head Coach, University of Houston
 
"When I coached with Taylor at Lamar, he was at a crossroads in his career that so many of us go through just after getting done playing, where we can continue pursuing a career in coaching or look for something that can be more financially lucrative in the immediate. I told Taylor then that he needed to try to find a way to stay with it because I knew he could be a really great coach. I am not surprised at all by all that he has accomplished and am excited to see what he can do as the head coach of that program. UT Tyler is extremely fortunate to have someone of Taylor's caliber ready to step in and lead that program."
 
Fuller Smith, Head Coach, Tarleton State
 
"Taylor White is one of the most respected recruiters, coaches and men in the coaching industry. UT Tyler could not have picked a better man to lead its baseball program. Taylor has been the silent architect behind UT Tyler's rise to national prominence at the Division II level. I am excited for Taylor and his family as well as the student-athletes that will continue to learn from Coach White about what it means to be winners on and off the field. Congratulations to UT Tyler on this home run hire!"
 
Doug Wren, Athletic Director, Tyler Junior College
 
"UT Tyler baseball has a long history of great leaders, and they couldn't have made a better hire than Taylor White to continue that legacy. Taylor is not only an outstanding baseball coach, but a tremendous person who genuinely cares about his players, coaches and staff. The Patriots are in great hands for many years to come."