JACKSON, Miss. – A veteran coach and familiar name will lead four Millsaps programs into the future.
Natalie Bach-Prather was named the Millsaps men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach on Thursday, the Millsaps Athletics Department announced.
Bach-Prather spent the previous 18 seasons as a student-athlete and coach at East Texas Baptist University.
She earned All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) Second Team honors in the early 2000s as an athlete. From there she volunteered in 2008 to help the cross country programs before becoming assistant coach in 2009 and finally head coach in 2012. In 2014, she started the ETBU men's and women's track and field programs.
"I am thrilled to begin a new chapter in my career working with the Millsaps men's and women's cross country and track and field teams," said Bach-Prather. "There are a lot of talented athletes that I'm looking forward to working with and I can't wait to get started with this track season."
Bach-Prather led her cross country teams to 10 total ASC Team Sportsmanship Awards and nine Individual Sportsmanship Awards. Additionally, she has coached a men's ASC individual champion, 19 All-ASC runners, 40 competitors at the NCAA Regional meet, two All-ASC First Team selections, an ASC Men's Newcomer of the Year and Women's Freshman of the Year.
On the track and field side, she presided over 23 combined ASC track and field champions, two ASC relay winning teams, three national qualifiers and both the 2019 ASC Outstanding Track Athlete and High Point Athlete.
She replaces long-time head coach
Andy Till, who coached the Millsaps programs since 2009. He led 57 individuals to all-conference honors and nine all-conference relay teams, one NCAA All-American in Erica Cook (2011), six total national qualifiers and 132 members of the All-Conference Honor Roll.
Bach-Prather creates family connections in the Millsaps Athletics Department as husband
Michael Prather is the men's basketball head coach. She and Michael have one son, Benjamin.
Bach-Prather graduated from East Texas Baptist University in 2008 and completed her master's degree in December 2012 from Stephen F. Austin State University.
The Majors now set their sights on competing on the cross country course at the NCAA South Regional Championships in Spartanburg, S.C. on Saturday, Nov. 13.
ETBU Men's and Women's Cross Country Honors Under Bach-Prather
- 59 Female ASC Academic All-Conference
- 35 Male ASC Academic All-Conference
- 23 Individual Men Regional Qualifiers
- 17 Individual Women Regional Qualifiers
- 13 ASC Runners of the Week
- 12 ASC All-Conference Male Runners
- 7 ASC All-Conference Female Runners
- 6 ASC Women's Team Sportsmanship Award
- 4 ASC Men's Team Sportsmanship Award
- 4 ASC Men's Individual Sportsmanship Award
- 3 Men's Team Regional Qualifiers
- 3 ASC Women's Individual Sportsmanship Award
- 1 ASC Men's Individual Champion
- 1 ASC Women's Freshman of the Year
- 1 Women's Team Regional Qualifier
- 1 Male ASC Medal of Honor Recipient
- 1 Female ASC Medal of Honor Recipient
- 1 Male ASC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award Winner
- 1 ASC Men's Individual Sportsmanship Award
ETBU Men's and Women's Track & Field Honors Under Bach-Prather
- 43 Female Track and Field ASC Academic All-Conference
- 36 Male Track and Field ASC Academic All-Conference
- 13 Men ASC Track and Field Champions
- 13 Men ASC Track and Field Runner-up
- 10 Women ASC Track and Field Runner-up
- 10 Male ASC Field Athlete of the Week
- 7 Women ASC Track and Field Champions
- 6 Female ASC Track Athlete of the Week
- 5 Male ASC Track Athlete of the Week
- 2 Male ASC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Medal of Honor Award
- 2 Men's 4x100 ASC Champion
- 2 Male NCAA Outdoor National Qualifiers
- 1 Men's ASC Team Sportsmanship Award
- 1 Women's Team Sportsmanship Award
- 1 Women's 4x400 ASC Track and Field Runner-Up
- 1 Women's 4x100 ASC Track and Field Runner-Up
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps men's and women's cross country and track and field programs, follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook or visit gomajors.com.
