Trena Prater Named Head Softball Coach At Campbell University

BUIES CREEK – Trena Prater has been named head softball coach at Campbell University, acting Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore announced July 8.  Prater, who brings more than two decades of coaching experience – including seven as a head coach – on the Division I level to Buies Creek, joins the Camel program after spending the last four years at Iowa, where she served as Associate Head Coach.

“We are thrilled to have Trena lead our softball program,” said Acting Director of Athletics Hannah Bazemore.  “She has been around championship-caliber teams, both as a player and a coach, and we look forward to seeing her take this already successful program to new heights.  She will be a fantastic addition to our community, and we are excited to welcome her to the Creek!”

Prater takes over a Campbell program that has won back-to-back Big South Conference regular season and tournament titles and participated in two NCAA regionals.  She replaces Sharonda McDonald-Kelley, who accepted the head coaching position last month at Michigan State.

“I want to thank Hannah Bazemore and Wanda Watkins for choosing me to lead this program,” said Prater.  “I’m excited to join a program like Campbell that already has a championship culture.  I look forward to helping our team grow as young women in the classroom, on the field, and in the community.”

Campbell combined to win 65 games and post a 36-9 record over the last two seasons, advancing to the 2021 NCAA Stillwater and 2022 NCAA Knoxville regionals.

“We are extremely excited about having Trena and her family join our Campbell University family,” said Watkins, Senior Associate A.D. and SWA, who led the search committee.  “She is a proven winner who has established herself as an outstanding player on both the collegiate and professional level as well as a successful coach who not only wins championships but cares about developing her players for the game of life.  We are blessed to have her lead our softball program and look forward to its continued success!”

After joining the Iowa staff in the summer of 2018, Prater helped develop all-region outfielder Nia Carter as well as Denali Loecker and Brylee Klosterman, who earned Big Ten honors.  The 2022 Hawkeyes team included 11 players who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.  She was promoted to Associate Head Coach in July 2021.

She joined the Hawkeyes after spending the 2018 season as an assistant coach at UCF, which finished 34-22 overall and in third place in the American Athletic Conference standings.

Prater spent seven seasons as a Division I head coach, compiling 141 victories with stops at Buffalo and Hampton.

Formerly Trena Peel, she was a standout player at LSU from 1999-2002, earning 2002 SEC Player of the Year honors and being named a semifinalist for the 2002 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

Under the watch of Prater, Buffalo posted a drastic turnaround during her first season in 2014. The Bulls won the MAC East Division Title after being selected last in the preseason poll by the league’s coaches. UB set program records for victories (30), batting average, doubles, runs scored and RBI.  While at UB, she guided six players to All-MAC accolades, while three student-athletes earned All-MAC Freshmen honors.

Prior to Buffalo, Prater spent three campaigns as the head coach at Hampton, improving the team’s win total each season. She doubled the Pirates’ victories following her first season and then guided the program to a 34-26 mark in 2013. Hampton captured the MEAC Tournament title that year, earning a trip to the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

Before becoming a head coach, Prater spent seven years as an assistant coach at Mississippi Valley State (2008-10), Maryland (2006-08) and George Washington (2003-04).

She also brings professional experience to her job after playing for the Akron Racers (2004, 2008-09), New York Juggernauts (2005), Chicago Bandits (2006) and Philadelphia Force (2007) in National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Prater also participated in the 2009 MLB Celebrity All-Star Game during all-star weekend in St. Louis, Mo.

The 2003 LSU graduate was named a 2002 Easton First-Team All-American, 2002 NFCA Second-Team All-American and 2002 SEC Softball Player of the Year with the Tigers. The three-time All-SEC honoree set the LSU record with 27 triples, ranking among the top-20 in NCAA history. Prater also tallied a career .323 batting average with 296 hits and 45 doubles.

While at LSU, Prater was a 1999 USA Junior Olympic Softball team member and played on the 2001 USA National Red Team. She was also selected to the USA Elite Team in 2002 and 2003.

Prater and her husband, Joe, have one child, Deuce.