Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Where Are They Now? – Steve Traylor
3/22/2020 6:44:00 PM | Baseball, General
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Steve Traylor and Jack Mehl played basketball together at Otterbein University in the early 1970s, the first of many connections between the two.
When Traylor registered for a postgraduate program at Ohio State University in 1973, Mehl pursued a master's degree of his own. Three years later, Traylor became Greensboro College's basketball coach and competed
against Mehl, who coached UNC Greensboro.
The two were best friends with mirroring careers. So in 1979 when Mehl, then Florida Atlantic University's athletic director, sought to hire the university's first ever baseball coach, he knew exactly who to call: Traylor.
And to Traylor, Mehl's offer was too enticing to decline.
"I made the decision that coaching baseball, for me – because it was my favorite sport of the three [he played baseball, football and basketball in college] – and to do that in South Florida, that warranted a change in career path for me," Traylor said.
FAU didn't have a basketball or football team yet, so Mehl told Traylor baseball would immediately be its "plum." In 1982, the Owls' second year of game action, they matched that attention with results by finishing 42-14 and making the NAIA District Tournament.
Traylor led FAU to a seven-win improvement in '83, earning his team a spot in the NAIA Area Tournament and himself Coach of the Year honors.
"We were able to get pretty good pretty quick," Traylor said. "Massive amount of great players, great support from the college and a great boss."
FAU transitioned into NCAA Division II in 1984 and didn't skip a beat. Traylor led the team to three straight 40-win seasons, including a NCAA Regional appearance in '85. He had a "blue-collar team of guys that were competitive and played with a chip on their shoulders."
The team's gritty mentality played a vital role in the Owls' early success, but Traylor says his friendship and synchronization with Mehl facilitated it.
"It was absolutely essential and probably the key ingredient to being able to develop such a strong and competitive baseball program that quickly," Traylor said. "He knew me inside and out. He knew my values, how I coached, what I knew, what I didn't know, any strengths or weaknesses. And he had complete faith in leaning on me to develop that baseball program.
"And by the same token I had the same feeling and knowledge of him as a person and as a professional, and we totally understood each other; he totally supported me and everything that I was doing, and I knew that he had my back."
In 1988 Traylor and his wife, Debbie Goforth-Traylor, were ready to have children. They wanted to start their family somewhere near Goforth-Taylor's hometown of Statesville, North Carolina, meaning Traylor had to leave FAU despite "loving" where it was headed.
Taylor sent résumés to coach-hungry colleges across the Carolinas and Virginia. The biggest opening of all, though, was at Duke University.
Duke athletic director Tom Butters, who hired coaching icons Steve Spurrier and Mike Krzyzewski, saw Traylor's resume and was intrigued: Traylor grew up and played college ball 30 minutes from Butters' hometown of Delaware, Ohio.
After conducting background research on Traylor, Butters interviewed him; it went well, and they met again – this time with Krzyzewski in attendance. Then, as soon as Traylor got home from the second interview, Butters called with the offer.
"The transition, going to FAU from Duke, was mainly personal – to have our family," Traylor said, "and it turned out to be a professional move that was unpredictable, unexpected and pretty much beyond belief."
Traylor found success both personally and professionally at Duke. His wife gave birth to two children, Danielle in 1988 and Ryan in '91. And the Blue Devils reached the 30-win mark in seven of Traylor's 12 years at the helm, including a 1992 season in which he won ACC Coach of the Year honors.
In 2000 Traylor left to coach at Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina transitioning from Division II to Division I. Traylor, who buoyed FAU through its jump from NAIA to DII 16 years prior, felt compelled to try a similar challenge.
And the results were as positive. Traylor helped secure funding for an on-campus stadium at Wofford, and in his final year of coaching (2007), led the Terriers to the Southern Conference Championship.
After the championship run Traylor became Wofford's director of campus recreation and intramurals, the position he's still in today.
Before Wofford and Duke, though, Traylor became one of the most influential figures in FAU sports history. FAU honored him as such in 2006, naming Traylor to its inaugural Hall of Fame class. That honor, and the opportunity FAU gave him to coach college baseball for the first time all those years ago, hasn't been forgotten.
"I can't say enough about FAU, all the people that I ever met and came into contact with have been the greatest people," Traylor said. "I can't say enough positive things about [former FAU coach] Kevin Cooney and coach [John McCormack], and I have love for all of it, and for all the people – and I speak on behalf of my players, that they've got nothing but love for FAU, too."
When Traylor registered for a postgraduate program at Ohio State University in 1973, Mehl pursued a master's degree of his own. Three years later, Traylor became Greensboro College's basketball coach and competed
against Mehl, who coached UNC Greensboro.The two were best friends with mirroring careers. So in 1979 when Mehl, then Florida Atlantic University's athletic director, sought to hire the university's first ever baseball coach, he knew exactly who to call: Traylor.
And to Traylor, Mehl's offer was too enticing to decline.
"I made the decision that coaching baseball, for me – because it was my favorite sport of the three [he played baseball, football and basketball in college] – and to do that in South Florida, that warranted a change in career path for me," Traylor said.
FAU didn't have a basketball or football team yet, so Mehl told Traylor baseball would immediately be its "plum." In 1982, the Owls' second year of game action, they matched that attention with results by finishing 42-14 and making the NAIA District Tournament.
Traylor led FAU to a seven-win improvement in '83, earning his team a spot in the NAIA Area Tournament and himself Coach of the Year honors.
"We were able to get pretty good pretty quick," Traylor said. "Massive amount of great players, great support from the college and a great boss."
FAU transitioned into NCAA Division II in 1984 and didn't skip a beat. Traylor led the team to three straight 40-win seasons, including a NCAA Regional appearance in '85. He had a "blue-collar team of guys that were competitive and played with a chip on their shoulders."
The team's gritty mentality played a vital role in the Owls' early success, but Traylor says his friendship and synchronization with Mehl facilitated it.
"It was absolutely essential and probably the key ingredient to being able to develop such a strong and competitive baseball program that quickly," Traylor said. "He knew me inside and out. He knew my values, how I coached, what I knew, what I didn't know, any strengths or weaknesses. And he had complete faith in leaning on me to develop that baseball program.
"And by the same token I had the same feeling and knowledge of him as a person and as a professional, and we totally understood each other; he totally supported me and everything that I was doing, and I knew that he had my back."
In 1988 Traylor and his wife, Debbie Goforth-Traylor, were ready to have children. They wanted to start their family somewhere near Goforth-Taylor's hometown of Statesville, North Carolina, meaning Traylor had to leave FAU despite "loving" where it was headed.
Taylor sent résumés to coach-hungry colleges across the Carolinas and Virginia. The biggest opening of all, though, was at Duke University.
Duke athletic director Tom Butters, who hired coaching icons Steve Spurrier and Mike Krzyzewski, saw Traylor's resume and was intrigued: Traylor grew up and played college ball 30 minutes from Butters' hometown of Delaware, Ohio.
After conducting background research on Traylor, Butters interviewed him; it went well, and they met again – this time with Krzyzewski in attendance. Then, as soon as Traylor got home from the second interview, Butters called with the offer.
"The transition, going to FAU from Duke, was mainly personal – to have our family," Traylor said, "and it turned out to be a professional move that was unpredictable, unexpected and pretty much beyond belief."
Traylor found success both personally and professionally at Duke. His wife gave birth to two children, Danielle in 1988 and Ryan in '91. And the Blue Devils reached the 30-win mark in seven of Traylor's 12 years at the helm, including a 1992 season in which he won ACC Coach of the Year honors.
In 2000 Traylor left to coach at Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina transitioning from Division II to Division I. Traylor, who buoyed FAU through its jump from NAIA to DII 16 years prior, felt compelled to try a similar challenge.
And the results were as positive. Traylor helped secure funding for an on-campus stadium at Wofford, and in his final year of coaching (2007), led the Terriers to the Southern Conference Championship.
After the championship run Traylor became Wofford's director of campus recreation and intramurals, the position he's still in today.
Before Wofford and Duke, though, Traylor became one of the most influential figures in FAU sports history. FAU honored him as such in 2006, naming Traylor to its inaugural Hall of Fame class. That honor, and the opportunity FAU gave him to coach college baseball for the first time all those years ago, hasn't been forgotten.
"I can't say enough about FAU, all the people that I ever met and came into contact with have been the greatest people," Traylor said. "I can't say enough positive things about [former FAU coach] Kevin Cooney and coach [John McCormack], and I have love for all of it, and for all the people – and I speak on behalf of my players, that they've got nothing but love for FAU, too."
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #7
Thursday, September 25
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #5
Friday, September 12
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #4
Thursday, September 04
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 #3
Friday, August 29