Taylor Bailey is in her first season as an assistant coach at Arknasas State.
A four-year starter for McKendree, Bailey helped anchor the team to the No. 1 ranking by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll during the 2019-20 season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bearcats won three in-season tournaments and posted a 93-18 record in the shortened season. She ranked second nationally in traditional average (212.2) and was also among the nation's leaders in Baker average (20.94), strike percentage (53.8 percent) and makeable spare percentage (89.4 percent). She earned NTCA First Team All-America honors and National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) Honorable Mention recognition following the 2019-20 season.
Over her McKendree career, Bailey was a three-time NTCA All-American, earning third team honors as a sophomore and second team honors as a junior. She played a pivotal role as a freshman, leading McKendree to the 2017 NCAA Championship. She earned All-Tournament recognition following a sweep of Nebraska in the title match. She was a Junior Team USA member and won gold medal at the 2018 International Bowling Federation World Youth Championships.
Bailey won her first professional title in early August at the 2021 PWBA Dallas/Fort Worth Regional. She defeated Maria Bulanova 246-224 to win the title. The event was the third of four events at the PWBA Summer Classic Series.
