(Peru, Neb.)—The Peru State athletic department recently announced the hiring of Renita "Toni" Closner to head the Bobcat softball program. Last season the Bobcats went 15-32 overall and 10-26 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.
 
Closner is a Peru State alum where she attended the college from 2011-2015 and where she played softball under the late head coach Mark Mathews. Closner collected a plethora of accolades in her time as a Bobcat, including Omaha World-Herald All-NAIA Honorable Mention in 2015 along with Heart All-Second Team in 2015.
 
Closner has great coaching experience at the high school and club level. She coached summer softball for Nebraska Gold. She was the assistant coach at Lincoln North Star from 2017-2020 . Then from 2020-2022 she was the head coach at Lincoln Southeast.
 
She led the Knights to a district championship in 2020, taking the team to the state tournament in her first season finishing in fifth place. While at Lincoln Southeast, Closner was named Female Coach of the Year in 2020-21.
 
Here's what coach Closner had to say about taking over the Bobcat program…
 
"I am very blessed and excited to be back in Peru to lead a program that is dear to my heart. I truly enjoyed my experience at PSC and learning what it meant to be BOBCAT PROUD," said Closner.
 
Closner continued…
 
"I love the game of softball, the competition, the life lessons it generates and the relationships I have gained from it. I consider my athletes (current and former) to be my family. I look forward to helping more student athletes pursue their athletic and educational journeys while showing them everything that Peru has to offer. Go Bobcats!"