SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo University is deeply saddened to share the passing of Brian Dayett, a member of the Saint Leo Athletics Hall of Fame and former Major League Baseball outfielder, who passed away at the age of 68.

Dayett was a standout for the Lions during his two seasons in the Green and Gold, helping lead the 1978 squad to the NCAA Tournament. A gifted hitter, he paced the team in multiple categories as both a sophomore and junior. Over his two years, he amassed 197 total bases, 78 RBI, 26 doubles, 11 home runs, and 10 triples. Dayett appeared in every game of his sophomore season, batting .311, before posting a remarkable .381 average as a junior.

His collegiate success led to his selection by the New York Yankees in the 16th round of the 1978 MLB Draft. Dayett went on to enjoy a decorated minor league career, highlighted by his 1982 campaign with the Nashville Sounds, where he belted 34 home runs—a single-season record that still stands—on his way to being named Southern League Player of the Year. The following season, he was recognized as the Yankees' Minor League Player of the Year.

Dayett played five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Yankees (1983-84) and Chicago Cubs (1985-87), appearing in 218 games. The outfielder recorded 26 doubles, 14 home runs, and 68 RBI while committing just one error in 221 chances defensively.

Following his MLB career, Dayett extended his playing days in Japan's Pacific League with the Nippon Ham Fighters for four seasons. He later turned to coaching, contributing nearly two decades to player development across professional baseball, including a stint with the Texas Rangers organization in 2014.

Dayett was inducted into the Saint Leo Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements and legacy in 2019.