SAINT LOUIS -- The Missouri Baptist University women's wrestling program will be under new direction as Director of Athletics Jeff Fore has announced Amond Prater as the Spartans' next head coach.

"I am blessed by the opportunity to serve as the Head Women's Wrestling Coach at Missouri Baptist," Prater said. "I am privileged to play a role in the lives of student-athletes, and it has me looking for ways to always value and respect anyone that I meet. My goal is to build awareness around becoming our best version in way that glorifies God and creates a family that can support and uplift in a world that will offer challenges. We will remain steadfast in our faith, so that we can conquer anything. Thank you for the continued support of my family, colleagues, and friends as we look to build upon our solid foundation!"

Prater takes over a program that finished last season in the Top 10 in the country, which included four All-Americans and a national champion, Juliana Diaz. He is taking over for Kirwyn Adderley who stepped down as head coach after the season.

Prater joined the Missouri Baptist women's wrestling program as an assistant coach at the start of the 2022-23 season. Prior to MBU, Prater helped build up the brand-new men's and women's wrestling programs at Fontbonne University as head coach of both squads. At the prep level, Prater spent three years as head coach at Fox High School and two years as an assistant wrestling coach at Seckman High School.

Since 2015, Coach Prater has been a part of the Missouri National Team coaching staff where he prepares athletes across the state to compete at regional and national tournaments. He serves as the head coach for the Team Missouri Women's National Team. Along with being a USA Wrestling Silver Level Coach, he is also a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Prater is a 2006 graduate of University of Missouri with a Bachelor of General Studies with an emphasis in Music, History, and Education. At Mizzou, Prater was a three-year letterwinner in wrestling while notching 71 career victories. He went on to earn his Master of Educational Administration (Secondary) and Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Secondary Education Social Studies from Missouri Baptist University.

Fore had this to say about the hiring of Prater, "we are extremely excited about what Coach Prater brings to our Women's program. As a volunteer coach last year, he helped Coach Adderley and the program reach new heights with an 8th place finish at Nationals. His familiarity with the program and incoming recruits will be a big asset as we continue to build a program that is in the discussions at the National level year in and year out."

Amond is married to Krystal Prater and has three daughters, Aryn, Anaya, and Ashytnn, and one son, Kaden.