Pratt named assistant golf coach for Lady Vols

Former University of Tennessee golfer Andrew Pratt has been hired as an assistant coach for the Tennessee women’s golf team. Pratt replaces former Lady Vols golfer Carrie Cole, who was named women’s coach at Texas-San Antonio.

Pratt, a lefty with a deft touch around the greens, played professionally for four years. He had five top-10 finishes on the Nationwide Tour, including a second-place showing at the 2005 Xerox Classic.

“I’m thrilled about Andrew joining our staff as an assistant coach,” Lady Vols coach Judi Pavon said in a school release. “He is a great player and person and will be a tremendous asset to our program. I’m looking forward to Andrew being able to work with the team in every area of their games, but especially their short games.

“His experience as a UT golfer and as a pro on the Hooters Tour and Nationwide Tour is going to be very valuable in assessing our players’ games and helping determine which areas to improve and implementing techniques to make them better.”

Pratt, a native of Bartlett, Tenn., was the 2004 and 2005 Tennessee State Open champion, the 2004 State Amateur winner and competed in four U.S. Amateurs and one British Amateur. He was All-SEC second team in 2002 and played in the 2000 and 2003 NCAA Championships.

“I’m very excited and would like to thank Judi and the Lady Vol Athletics Department for giving me this opportunity,” said Pratt. “I think my experience playing four years of college golf and nearly four years of professional golf can really help me improve this team.

“Two of my biggest strengths when I played at UT and professionally were my short game and course management, and I really feel my knowledge in those areas can be an asset to this program.”