GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Head Coach Tim Walton named Amanda Lorenz as the program’s Volunteer Assistant Coach Friday afternoon. Lorenz, a four-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-American with the Gators, enters her new role after she spent the shortened 2020 season in the dugout as a student assistant coach.

Lorenz, the second-highest professional draft pick in program history, also currently plays for the USSSA Pride located in Viera, Fla. She was drafted second overall by the Pride in the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch Draft.

“Amanda is one of the most talented, hardest working and smartest players I have ever had the pleasure of coaching,” Walton said. “Her knowledge of the game, experience as an elite athlete, and the skills she has learned over her career as both an outfielder and first baseman make her an invaluable asset for our program to have.

“We both share a similar work ethic and mindset and I’m excited to see her grow into this new role as she works hand-in-hand with our coaches and players to maintain the Gators Standard. We’re thankful to still have Amanda wearing the Orange & Blue, but now as our Volunteer Assistant Coach!”

 As only the program’s second four-time NFCA All-American, Lorenz helped lead the Gators to three consecutive SEC regular-season titles (’16, ’17 & ’18), back-to-back SEC Tournament Championships (’18 & ’19) and three consecutive Women’s College World Series (WCWS) appearances (’17, ’18 & ’19). 

Lorenz also became the first in program history, eighth in SEC history, to be named a four-time All-SEC First Team selection.

In her new role, she’ll utilize her unique set of intangibles and leadership abilities to help Walton and assistant coach Aric Thomas with training the Gators offensively at the plate and defensively in the field.

“I am both thankful and excited to step into this new role as the Volunteer Assistant. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to learn from Coach Walton, Coach Thomas, and Coach Bosch as an athlete and I am looking forward to continuing to learn from the best coaching staff in the country in my new role as a coach.

“I am a Gator through and through and couldn’t imagine starting my coaching career anywhere else. I am excited to continue sharing my passion for Florida Softball and do anything I can to help this team be successful. Go Gators!”

The Moorpark, Calif. native’s successful career wearing the Orange & Blue also landed her at the top, or near it, in almost every statistical category throughout the program’s record book. She is the only Gator to post a career batting average above .400 (.407), on-base percentage above .500 (.549), and more than 200 walks (238). 

She also tied Gator Great Ashley Boone (1998-’01) for the Florida record for career in doubles with 59 and finished inside the top 10 in hits (301 – 2^nd), sac flies (12 – 2^nd), slugging percentage (.685 – 3^rd), runs (248 – 3^rd), triples (12 – T-3^rd), RBI (196 – 4^th), intentional walks (6 – T-5^th), fielding percentage (.995 – 5^th), home runs (41 – 6^th), games started (265 – 6^th) and games played (265 – 8^th).

More impressively, Lorenz reached base safely in 254 out of the 265 career games she played in, which includes a 2018 campaign where she reached safely in all 67 games.

As a freshman, Lorenz kicked-off her Gators career during the 2016 season and made an immediate impact on a roster already filled with All-Americans. She led the team with a .403 batting average, 14 doubles and 48 walks on her way to being named NFCA & SEC Freshman of the Year.

During the 2017 season, she continued to thrive as she earned a spot on the WCWS All-Tournament Team after the Gators made their run to a fifth overall appearance in the WCWS Championship Series. She also picked up NFCA First Team All-American and All-SEC First Team accolades.

For her junior campaign, the left-handed slugger’s yearly accolades were highlighted by being named the SEC’s Player of the Year, selected as an NFCA All-American for the third time and was also a Top-4 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and CWSA Honda Sports Award. Lorenz broke the UF single-season records for walks (70) and on-base percentage (.582). She also went 5-for-6 in the Gators NCAA Super Regional against Texas A&M that send the program to its nine Women’s College World Series.

 In 2019, she earned her third NFCA All-American First Team accolade and broke numerous records to capped her illustrious career by capturing numerous Florida batting titles. She finished as the NCAA’s active career leader in walks (238) and games played (265) and finished inside the Top 5 in runs (248- 2^nd), hits (301 – 2^nd), doubles (59 – 2^nd) and total bases (507 – 4^th).

Defensively she also learned to be more versatile as she moved from the outfield to first base and earned a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team as well as being an All-SEC First Team Selection and USA Softball Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist. 

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