WIU names Sheriff as interim baseball coach

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University Director of Athletics Paul Bubb announced Monday that Tayler Sheriff will serve as the interim head coach of the baseball program for the 2023 season.

“After speaking with returning members of the baseball team, I truly believe this is the best opportunity for this program at this time,” Bubb said. “Many of these players were part of the last coaching change, which took place after the semester had started and shared their concerns with a new coach joining the team. We also have commitments from new players who were recruited by Coach Sheriff, so this will provide for some continuity going into this season.”

Sheriff took over on an interim basis June 30 after the contract of head coach Andy Pascoe was not renewed. The 2022 season was Sheriff’s first with the Leathernecks, as he served as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Prior to coaching at WIU, Sheriff worked for the baseball program at Spalding University as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

Sheriff was part of significant success at Spalding, which won the regular-season championship of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2019. Sheriff oversaw three pitchers who were named All-SLIAC in 2019.

Sheriff started his coaching career in 2015 with United High School in Armagh, Pa.

A nation-wide search for the permanent baseball coach will be conducted in the spring of 2023.