Taylor to Replace Gattis at Wyoming

Dave Taylor, a Rio Mesa High graduate and a former baseball coach at Oxnard College, was named coach at University of Wyoming on Thursday.

Taylor, an assistant at Wyoming last spring, replaces Jim Gattis, another coach with area ties.

Gattis, 41, played at North Hollywood High. He was named Western Athletic Conference East Division coach of the year last spring, leading the team to a 32-23 record.

Taylor, 30, most recently coached in the area as an assistant at Simi Valley High in 1993. Gattis resigned to pursue business opportunities, which include a chain of family-owned coffee shops.

“I’m excited about the opportunity, but sorry Jim had to leave,” Taylor said. “He did a good job bringing the program up a notch.”