Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — May 2018
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa head softball coach Renee Gillispie announced the addition of Trena Prater to the coaching staff on Tuesday. Prater’s primary responsibilities include hitting and outfielders.
“I’m thankful that coach Gillispie asked me to join her at Iowa,” Prater said. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to coach at a Power Five school like Iowa that has an amazing history of winning in the postseason.”
“We are thrilled that we are able to bring Trena from UCF and have her be our hitting coach this year,” Gillispie said. “She has given us a lot of stability and knowledge because she came from Buffalo as a head coach, so she is bringing a second head coach understanding. She understands how to reach players at a deeper level and helps them grow not only on the field, but as a person.”
Prater joins the Hawkeyes after working under coach Gillispie during the 2018 season at UCF, helping the team to a 34-22 record and a third place finish in the American Conference. Under her tutelage, UCF compiled 29 home runs and a .257 batting average, while run-ruling four teams.
Prior to UCF, Prater spent seven seasons as a head coach at Buffalo and Hampton, where she amassed 141 wins and a MAC East Division title and MEAC Tournament title.
As an assistant coach, Prater had stints at George Washington (2003-04), Maryland (2006-08), and Mississippi Valley State (2008-10).
Prater also spent seven seasons in National Pro Fastpitch, playing for the Akron Racers (2004, 2010), New York Juggernauts (2005), Chicago Bandits (2006), and Philadelphia Force (2007-2009).
In college, Prater played at LSU and was a 2002 Easton first-team All-American, 2002 NFCA second team All-American, and 2002 SEC Softball Player of the Year. She is a three time All-SEC honoree and set the school record with 27 triples, which ranks in the top 20 in NCAA history.
Prater was also a 1999 USA Junior Olympic Softball team member and USA Elite team member in 2002 and 2003.
