Colorado State University Athletics
Kennedy Adds Prater to Staff
9/4/2026 12:40:00 PM | Men's Golf
Local standout amateur to assist men’s golf
FORT COLLINS  – Ahead of its first season in the Pac-12, Colorado State has tapped Colin Prater as assistant coach for the men's golf program. Prater has cemented himself as an elite amateur golfer in Colorado, with several accolades and accomplishments under his belt from each stage of his golf career.
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"We are very excited to have Colin join the Ram golf family," coach Jack Kennedy said. "His record speaks for itself in Colorado history, but he is an even better human being. Colin will have an immediate impact in developing our current players and recruiting the best players to CSU."
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A Colorado native, Prater started his golf career at Palmer High School where he was a four-time Class 5A state qualifier and three-time Colorado Springs Metro League Champion, as well as Colorado Springs Golfer of the Year. Prater's high school golf slate led him to start his college career at Colorado Mesa, where he was awarded the Phil Mickelson Award for the national Division II freshman of the year.
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He then returned to Colorado Springs with a transfer to UCCS, where he picked up 14 individual victories and earned four NCAA Division II All-American honors. He planned to start his career as a professional golfer in Arizona after graduating in 2019, but he decided to instead pursue teaching in Colorado Springs and prioritized starting a family.
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After beginning his career as a teacher, he maintained his passion for golf and started entering Colorado tournaments. Prater has now played in 8 USGA Championships and is tied for the record in CGA Amateur titles with four.
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He won the Colorado Golf Association Amateurs in 2016 and 2020 and was named Colorado Golf Hall of Fame's Golf Person of the year in 2021. In 2020, he made history by becoming the second player to win the Colorado Amateur and Colorado Match Play in the same year. In 2024, he was one of 44 amateurs to qualify for and play in the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.Â
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Prater married his wife Madi in 2021 and they now have two daughters, Blake and Logan. His addition to the staff reflects Colorado State's continued commitment to strengthening relationships in the Centennial State.Â
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"We are very excited to have Colin join the Ram golf family," coach Jack Kennedy said. "His record speaks for itself in Colorado history, but he is an even better human being. Colin will have an immediate impact in developing our current players and recruiting the best players to CSU."
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A Colorado native, Prater started his golf career at Palmer High School where he was a four-time Class 5A state qualifier and three-time Colorado Springs Metro League Champion, as well as Colorado Springs Golfer of the Year. Prater's high school golf slate led him to start his college career at Colorado Mesa, where he was awarded the Phil Mickelson Award for the national Division II freshman of the year.
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He then returned to Colorado Springs with a transfer to UCCS, where he picked up 14 individual victories and earned four NCAA Division II All-American honors. He planned to start his career as a professional golfer in Arizona after graduating in 2019, but he decided to instead pursue teaching in Colorado Springs and prioritized starting a family.
Â
After beginning his career as a teacher, he maintained his passion for golf and started entering Colorado tournaments. Prater has now played in 8 USGA Championships and is tied for the record in CGA Amateur titles with four.
Â
He won the Colorado Golf Association Amateurs in 2016 and 2020 and was named Colorado Golf Hall of Fame's Golf Person of the year in 2021. In 2020, he made history by becoming the second player to win the Colorado Amateur and Colorado Match Play in the same year. In 2024, he was one of 44 amateurs to qualify for and play in the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.Â
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Prater married his wife Madi in 2021 and they now have two daughters, Blake and Logan. His addition to the staff reflects Colorado State's continued commitment to strengthening relationships in the Centennial State.Â
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