MARSHALL, Texas – East Texas Baptist University announced a changed in the cross country and track and field programs as Zach Richardson has resigned as the head cross country and track and field coach to accept a position at another institution. Former ETBU head coach and Marshall native, Natalie Bach-Prather is returning to ETBU to serve as the Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach beginning August 1.
"Coaching at ETBU has been a journey filled with growth and unforgettable memories. As I leave, I carry with me a heart full of gratitude for the athletes, staff, and community who have trusted in me and shaped me into the coach and man I am today," Richardson said.
Richardson was at ETBU for four years, two as an assistant under Bach-Prather, and has been the head coach for the track and field/cross country programs the past two seasons continuing the success that Bach-Prather had started. In the past two seasons, women's cross country has posted their best finishes at the American Southwest Conference Championship meet in third place while participating as a team at the NCAA Division III Regional Meet. Both of the men's and women's track and field programs have produced qualifiers for the NCAA Division III National Championship Meet as the team has been nationally ranked. The men's track and field team finished second at the ASC Championship meet the past two years as both programs have amassed several individual championships.
"While we are sad for Coach Richardson to leave ETBU, I am grateful for Coach Richardson's dedication and contributions to the cross country and track programs over the past four years. He has been a valued member of our athletic department and his leadership and commitment to Christ-centered athletics has had a positive impact on our student-athletes and the entire campus community. We wish Zach all the best in his future endeavors and appreciate his time, commitment, and hard he has shown during his tenure as a Tiger," Senior Vice President for Campus Life Ryan Erwin said.
"We could not be more excited to welcome Coach Natalie Bach-Prather back to ETBU as the next head coach of Tiger Cross Country and Track and Field. Coach Bach-Prather was instrumental to building both programs at ETBU during her time as a Tiger and her athletes always excelled in competition and in the classroom. She helped set the standard for her student-athletes and has a desire to use her sport to minister and invest in the lives of student-athletes with a commitment to discipleship and dedication to excellence," Erwin added.
Bach-Prather returns to her hometown where she has a rich history at ETBU and in East Texas after two years as the head coach at Millsaps College (Miss.). In two seasons, she helped improve both the track and field/cross country programs. She recruited the first male runner for cross country to finish at the NCAA Regional Meet in 34th in 2023 running the fastest 8K time in program history at 26:09.75. In both seasons, Millsaps had runners at the NCAA Regional Meet. This past season in men's and women's track and field, her programs broke five school records and had seven student-athletes earn All-SAA honorable mention.
"I am so blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to return home. My time at Millsaps has been filled with so many wonderful student-athletes and I know they will continue to thrive. I'm excited to return to the program I built and can't wait to see what the future holds," said Bach-Prather.
As a former ETBU student-athlete in women's cross country, assistant coach, and then head coach, Bach-Prather's journey in running the Tiger Cross Country programs is a blessed one. She became the women's head coach in 2008 and added the men's head coaching title in 2012. Building the programs up to be in the top tier of the ASC, there were 16 combined All-ASC runners, eight individual ASC Sportsmanship of the Year awards and Team Sportsmanship Awards, while guiding both programs to their first-ever team appearances in the NCAA Regional Meets.
Professionally, Bach-Prather has competed in three Boston Marathons and in one Ironman Texas. She has also trained as a triathlete with a sponsorship qualifying for Age-Group World Championships and participated in 50 sprint triathlons, 15 half marathons, five marathons, eight half-Ironman, and one Ironman. The USTA has awarded her All-American awards from 2012 through 2015.
She is married to former ETBU men's basketball player and current Millsaps head men's basketball coach Michael Prather and they have two children.
