Trena Prater was named an assistant coach at UCF on July 31, 2017. She is focused on working as the hitting coach as well as other daily responsibilities.
In her first season at UCF, the Knights went 34-22 and took down two ranked teams (No. 23 Long Beach State and No. 4 Florida). The Knights finished third in The American Conference for the second consecutive season. The team put together a .257 batting average with a .372 slugging percentage and a .338 on-base percentage. UCF compiled 29 home runs and 521 under the leadership of Prater including nine games with over 10 hits. The Knights run-ruled four teams this season posting a run difference of eight runs by the fifth inning.
Prater has spent a combined seven season as a head coach, compiling 141 victories with stops at Buffalo and Hampton. Prater, formerly Trena Peel, was a standout player at LSU from 1999-2002, earning 2002 SEC Player of the Year 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. A number of program records were set – victories (30), batting average (.266), doubles (71), runs scored (236) and RBI (208).
While at UB, she guided six players – Tori Speckman, Holly Luciano, Sammi Gallardo, Alexis Curtiss, Savanna Norcio and Ally Power – to All-MAC accolades, while three student-athletes earned All-MAC Freshmen honors. Curtiss was tabbed as a member of the 2015 NFCA All-Region First Team and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
She helped mentor Speckman to set the program’s record for single-season (22) and career victories (48), while tallying a program-best 228 strikeouts in 2014.
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’ win total 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 UCF, 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, which is 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.
In her first season at UCF, the Knights went 34-22 and took down two ranked teams (No. 23 Long Beach State and No. 4 Florida). The Knights finished third in The American Conference for the second consecutive season. The team put together a .257 batting average with a .372 slugging percentage and a .338 on-base percentage. UCF compiled 29 home runs and 521 under the leadership of Prater including nine games with over 10 hits. The Knights run-ruled four teams this season posting a run difference of eight runs by the fifth inning.
Prater has spent a combined seven season as a head coach, compiling 141 victories with stops at Buffalo and Hampton. Prater, formerly Trena Peel, was a standout player at LSU from 1999-2002, earning 2002 SEC Player of the Year 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. A number of program records were set – victories (30), batting average (.266), doubles (71), runs scored (236) and RBI (208).
While at UB, she guided six players – Tori Speckman, Holly Luciano, Sammi Gallardo, Alexis Curtiss, Savanna Norcio and Ally Power – to All-MAC accolades, while three student-athletes earned All-MAC Freshmen honors. Curtiss was tabbed as a member of the 2015 NFCA All-Region First Team and 2015 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
She helped mentor Speckman to set the program’s record for single-season (22) and career victories (48), while tallying a program-best 228 strikeouts in 2014.
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’ win total 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 UCF, 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, which is 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.