The Department of Athletics is always looking for ways to promote the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and will be conducting a series of Alumni Spotlight's to highlight their professional accomplishments. If you have a success story you would like to share, please contact Assistant AD for External Relations Tim Lutz at tlutz1@aum.edu or at 334-244-3832. He can also be reached on Facebook or Twitter (@timlutz). We would love to hear from you and share your accomplishments.
 
Today's Alumni Spotlight features Taylor Burt, a two-year all-conference performer with the softball program during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Originally from Leesburg, Ala., Burt led the team to a 72-36-1 record during her tenure, good for a 66.5 winning percentage.
 
During her prep career, Burt was a multi-sport standout at Sand Rock High School, where she earned all-state honors in volleyball, basketball and softball. During her softball career with the Wildcats, she posted a .399 career batting average at the plate, but was a key contributor in the circle, where she tossed 779 1/3 innings, posted a 0.99 earned run average, 1,303 strikeouts and threw nine no-hitters. She also scored 2,789 points, pulled down 656 rebounds, dished out 805 assists and snagged 424 steals on the hard wood, while posting 1,102 kills, 134 blocks, 773 digs and 227 aces on the volleyball court. She was selected to the 2016 Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame.
 
From Sand Rock HS, Burt signed to play softball at Gadsden State Community College, where she was an all-conference performer as a freshman and earned all-state and All-South Regional honors as a sophomore. She posted a .449 batting average for the Cardinals as a sophomore, the sixth-best average in the Alabama Community College Conference.
 
In 2009, Burt signed with AUM and immediately made her presence felt on campus. Burt appeared in 99 career games, earning the starting nod in 93, and posted a career batting average of .301. She tallied 84 hits in 279 at bats, including 28 doubles, four triples and five home runs. She drove in 53 runs, scored 58 times and stole 20 bases. Burt also made 14 appearances in the circle, posting a 2-2 record and throwing three complete games.
 
As a junior, Burt appeared in 45 games, hitting .341 with 13 doubles, three triples and four homers. Her 32 RBIs ranked third on the team, while she also swiped 12 bases. In her final season, she posted a .269 batting average, while connecting on 15 doubles, one triple and one home run. Her 15 doubles in 201 is a mark that is still tied for fourth in the program's history for a season total.
 
For her accomplishments, Burt was selected a Second-Team All-Southern States Athletic Conference honoree as a junior and earned SSAC All-West Division accolades as a senior. She was also named to the SSAC All-Academic team both seasons.
 
Currently, Burt is a physical education teach at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School in Trussville, Ala. She is also beginning her third year as the head softball coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School, where she led the Huskies to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) 7A State Championship last spring.
 
During the school's first softball championship run, Burt guided HTHS around opening-round losses in both the regional and state tournaments. In the state tournament, she led the Huskies to six straight victories following a 2-0 loss to Fairhope in their opening game, eventually defeating Sparkman High School twice in the championship series. The run was highlighted by an 8-4 victory in a winner-take-all championship game. The Huskies finished the 2019 campaign with a 44-15-1 record.
 
For her efforts, Burt was voted the 2019 7A Alabama Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year and the 2019 Birmingham Region Coach of the Year.
 
Prior to her arrival at Hewitt-Trussville, Burt spent two seasons as head softball coach at North Jackson High School, where she led the program to its first regional appearance in 10 years. Upon graduation from AUM, Burt spent four years as the head softball coach at Fort Payne High School, where she guided the Wildcats to four consecutive 20-plus win seasons. Her teams won three Dekalb County Championships, three Regional tournament berths, and the school's first 6A Area 13 Championship. She was selected Dekalb County Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. 
 
For more information on what Taylor is doing and how AUM played a role in her professional success, please check out the Q&A below.
 
1. Where are you living now and what are you doing? Did you know you always wanted to do what you are doing professionally?
I currently live in Birmingham and work as a middle school physical education teacher at Hewitt Trussville Middle School and am also the head softball coach for Hewitt Trussville High School. I knew that I wanted to coach from about age 17. I have always had a love for sports, especially softball and basketball, so I knew that I wanted to continue to be involved even after my playing days were finished.
 
2. How did your time as a student and student-athlete at AUM prepare you for your career and life after college?
It taught me discipline and hard work. Being a student in the communications department and a student-athlete, I had to learn to manage my time and balance all that came with those responsibilities, so that definitely helped prepare me for balancing teaching and coaching. 

3. What are your goals for the near future in regard to your career? Do you have a plan for the next 2-3 years?
I am currently working to get my master's in physical education, so that is something I will complete soon. I hope to continue to build on the success we have started at Hewitt in our softball program, as well as work to be a better coach and leader for my girls. 
 
4. When is the last time you've been to campus. How has the campus changed?
I actually drove through in late May during our state softball tournament, which was in Montgomery. The campus has grown so much. The addition of the Wellness Center is amazing! The athletics facilities have gotten some awesome updates as well.

5. What originally attracted you to AUM as a student-athlete?
I planned to major in speech pathology and AUM has a great program, so that was a big factor. Then when I visited campus, I loved the small close knit feel it had. It wasn't overwhelming and truly felt like a family atmosphere.

6. What are some of your most memorable moments from your time as a student-athlete at AUM?
In softball it would have to be a series we had at the University of Mobile. We had a huge comeback win and ended up sweeping the series. We also went on a really long road trip over spring break my junior year that took us all over the southeast, but overall my favorite is just the memories and time spent with my teammates. We had so much fun and genuinely enjoyed each other. That is what I remember most.

7. How often do you keep in touch with your former teammates?
Quite often actually. Group messages and social media definitely help with that. We were fortunate for several of us to meet up in Montgomery and get to spend a couple days together a few months back. We live all over, but I definitely keep up with as many as I can! 

8. What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
I coach a travel softball team as well so free time is limited, but I spend as much time as I can with family and friends. I also love to play golf and go to the beach any chance I get.
 
9. What advice would you have for the current student-athletes at AUM?
Soak up every moment, even the hard ones. These are some of the most challenging times you'll have but also something you'll miss more than you know when it's all over. Work hard on and off the field and create strong lasting relationships with your teammates. You will love your time that much more if you love the one's you're spending it with. That is ultimately what you will remember down the road.

10. Anything else you would like to share with the AUM community?
Thank you for this opportunity and I can't wait to see how AUM continues to grow! I'm thankful to have been a "Senator"! Go Warhawks!