MARSHALL, Texas – East Texas Baptist University has added a new assistant softball coach, Taryn Barney. Barney comes to ETBU from UT Tyler, where she was a two-time NCAA Division II National Champion.
 
"We are incredibly excited to welcome Taryn to our staff at ETBU. She brings a wealth of knowledge, a tremendous passion for the game, and firsthand experience as part of a championship culture that will have a lasting impact on our program," says ETBU Head Softball Coach Janae Shirley. "While she had an outstanding playing career, I have no doubt that her greatest impact is still ahead of her. Taryn has all the qualities to excel as a coach, and we are thrilled to have her investing in the next generation of Valor Gals."
 
Entering her first year under ETBU Softball Head Coach Janae Shirley, Taryn Barney brings extensive softball knowledge to the Valor Gals after a four-year playing career at UT Tyler.
 
Barney is a two-time NCAA Division II National Champion for the Patriots and made the 2025 National Championship All-Tournament team. The two-time NFCA and D2CCA All-Region selection was also a two-time member of the Lone Star Conference First Team. She also excelled in the classroom, being named the LSC Academic Player of the Year and making the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District team.
 
The four-year player had a career .349 batting average with 38 doubles, 21 home runs, 119 RBI, and 73 runs scored. In her final two years at UT Tyler, she played in 121 games, starting 117, and hit .370 with 110 RBI. In 2025, she had 61 hits with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, and 59 RBI. In the 2025 National Championship game vs. Tampa, she recorded a double for an RBI and a 1-0 lead as the Patriots won 3-0 for their second consecutive National Championship.
 
From Lewiston, Idaho, she went to Lewiston High School, where she was on the Idaho All-State Second Team and a two-time North Idaho Hall of Fame High School Softball Athlete of the Year. She earned two IEL MVPs and was the IEL Newcomer of the Year as a freshman.
 
She earned a bachelor's degree from UT Tyler in Criminal Justice in 2026.