Bob Laurent is in his second season as the volunteer assistant softball coach at Illinois Springfield.
He joined the Prairie Stars last season (2011-12) and helped the program experience its best season ever. UIS won 36 games, captured the Great Lakes Valley West Division championship and made the first NCAA Tournament appearance UIS has enjoyed in any sport. The Prairie Stars also reached both the GLVC Tournament and NCAA Midwest Regional championship games. Bob helped coach and develop four All-GLVC performers and two All-Midwest Region players during the campaign.
Laurent brings over 20 years of softball and baseball player development experience to UIS. He founded the Hitting Center organization in 1993 and has served as past President of the Protestant Church Softball League of Springfield. Laurent’s involvement has included competing, coaching, and mentoring hundreds of student athletes, many of which have gone on to compete in the college and professional ranks. Several of his students have served or are actively serving as college, high school and area coaches.
Bob is also involved in the Springfield-area athletic community, serving on the Capital Area Sports Commission, the Land of Lincoln Junior Olympic Softball Board and the Illinois State Advisory Board for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
