The University of Illinois Springfield Athletics Department announced on Thursday that Trevor Forde has been named the Prairie Stars head baseball coach.
“We are thrilled to welcome Trevor Forde as the next head baseball coach at the University of Illinois Springfield,” stated Director of Athletics Laura Liesman. “I look forward to seeing him lead our baseball program and uphold the tradition of excellence.”
Forde comes to Springfield from the University of Indianapolis where he completed his seventh season as the Greyhound’s assistant coach this spring.
In his time on the Indianapolis coaching staff the Greyhounds earned 20 All-GLVC selections and two All-American honors, including infielder Drew Donaldson as a First Team selection in 2023. Indianapolis advanced to the NCAA DII Championship in Cary, N.C. for the first time since 2012 and finished the 2023 season ranked No. 8 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
Along with developing the Greyhound’s catchers and hitters, Forde was an integral part of recruiting top-talent at Indianapolis.
“I am grateful for the opportunity Laura Liesman has given me to lead this program,” Forde said. “I’m excited to begin working with the team this fall and continue to build on the success that the UIS Baseball program had under Coach Copeland and Coach Ramirez. Long term, we aim to develop great young men who show up in the community and on the field, see them graduate, and ultimately return to Cary.”
The Evanston, Ill. native started his collegiate career at Heartland Community College where his teams made two World Series appearances and compiled an impressive record of 110-18. Forde then moved on to play at UIndy. As a Greyhound, Forde started a total of 45 games through two seasons and notched 24 hits and 12 RBIs at the plate.
Forde graduated from the University of Indianapolis with both a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management and a Master of Science in Sport Management. Forde becomes the fourth head coach of Prairie Stars Baseball.
