We present a combined coherent states (CS)/density functional theory approach to molecular dynamics within the electron nuclear dynamics framework. Nuclei are described by a product of narrow, frozen Gaussian wave packets that is approximately separable into translational, rotational, and vibrational CS parts. Electrons are described by a single-determinantal Thouless CS in a time-dependent Kohn-Sham fashion. This novel approach improves several features of the Car-Parrinello method by providing an ab initio CS Lagrangian, a quasi-classical CS description for the nuclei, and a non-redundant representation of a general electronic single-determinantal state. Preliminary simulations of the H+ + H-2 reaction at E-Lab = 30 eV are also presented. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.