COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball head coach Robin Pingeton announced changes to her coaching staff on Wednesday, as Kate Frerking will transition into the Coordinator of Recruiting Operations role, while Paige Pender joins the staff as a Graduate Student Manager. Pender joins the Mizzou staff after spending the last two seasons as a student manager for the program.
After spending last season as a graduate student manager for the program, Frerking will be elevated into the Coordinator of Recruiting Operations role for the upcoming 2019-20 season. In her new position, Frerking will assist the Mizzou coaching staff in their entire operation to maintain successful recruiting efforts. Frerking will handle scheduling efforts for the staff on the road, as well as coordinate the official and unofficial visits of prospective recruits who visit the Mizzou campus.
Frerking played collegiately at Auburn (2013-17, as she was one of two players in Auburn history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists and 200 steals, and earned All-SEC Second Team honors in her senior campaign. Following her successful Auburn career, Frerking played professionally for Lulea Basket in Sweden for the 2017-18 season, where she averaged 11.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.
In her two seasons as a student manager, Pender assisted with the daily operations of practice and the execution of game days. Pender served as the lead student manager this past season (2018-19, helping organize the tasks of Mizzou’s student managers, set up practice equipment, rebounded and passed in practice and pregame, and assist in all overall operations.
“I am very excited to be joining Coach Pingeton and her staff,” said Pender. “I am very humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to learn from a very talented coaching staff, both on and off the court.”
Prior to joining Mizzou, Pender worked as a teacher assistant at the Christian Family Learning Center in Florissant, Mo., providing care to children 12-years and under while teaching daily lessons to prepare the children for schooling.
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