Laura Trout served as an assistant coach for the Illini for six years prior to beig named associate head coach in August 2021. She serves as the hitting coach and works primarily with the infielders.
During her time at Illinois, Trout has guided Illinois to four NCAA Tournaments. After leading the program to its first back-to-back NCAA Regional appearances since 2010 during the 2016-17 campaigns, Trout helped the Illini tally one of their best home seasons in program history with a 15-2 record at Eichelberger Field in 2018. Another NCAA Regional appearance was in the cards in 2019 with Illinois logging a 33-25 season. Trout coached Illinois to three victories over top-25 opponents before COVID canceled the 2020 campaign.
Illinois’ fourth NCAA Tournament appearance under Trout’s tutelage came in 2022 when the Orange and Blue squad squad finished third in the Big Ten and qualified for the NCAA Tournament, her fourth appearance in seven years with the Illini. In 2023, Illinois hosted the Big Ten Softball Tournament since the program’s inception. During the postseason event, the Illini pulled off the upset in the opening round, topping Wisconsin, 8-4, to become the first-ever 12-seed to defeat a five-seed on its home field.
Under Trout’s tutelage in 2024, Adisyn Caryl earned all-conference honors, taking home All-Freshman Team accolades for Illinois for the first time since 2022. Keirys Click was a bright spot in the Illini lineup, earning Freshman of the Week honors during the 2025 campaign. The Illini earned one ranked victory during the season, a 9-5 rout of No. 21 Ohio State during the final weekend of the regular season.
Under Trout’s guidance, 15 Illini players have earned recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
A former SEC shortstop, Trout cames to Champaign-Urbana from George Washington University, where she spent the 2015 season as an assistant coach. In charge of hitting and infield defense, she helped the Colonials to rank in the top 10 in the nation in double plays turned while showing marked improvement in batting average and home runs in her first season on staff.
Prior to arriving in D.C., Trout served as a volunteer assistant for the University of South Carolina for two seasons, helping the Gamecocks to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years in 2013.
Trout began her college career at Spartanburg Methodist College, where she was a Junior College All-American, participated in two Junior College World Series, and was the Region X Most Valuable Player in 2009. Trout then transferred to the University of Georgia, where she helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2010 Women’s College World Series and a final rank of No. 3 in the nation while receiving the award of Best Defensive Player. The Bulldogs’ starting shortstop, Trout had a breakout season as a senior, hitting .348 to help the Dawgs return to the Super Regionals.
The Summerville, South Carolina, native guided Georgia back to the Super Regionals once again in 2012 as a student assistant coach, while completing her bachelor’s degree in journalism.
In 2012, Trout served as the head coach of the Southern Force 18U Gold travel organization, where she led her team to a seventh-place finish at Premier Nationals. During her season at the helm, she coached seven student athletes who would go on to play Division I softball, four of whom competed in the 2015 Women’s College World Series. Additionally, she mentored a pair of Georgia Gatorade Players of the Year, including the National Player of the Year, as well as a Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and SEC Freshman of the Year.
Trout graduated Magna Cum Laude from Spartanburg Methodist College with an associate’s degree in 2009. She then completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2012 at the University of Georgia, where she was twice named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
