Lauren Lappin, a U.S. Olympian and retired professional softball player, enters her sixth season as the program's full-time assistant coach in 2021-22.
In five years, Lappin has helped UMSL to a 143-93 (.601) record, three trips to the NCAA Tournament and two GLVC Tournament championships.
Lappin also serves as head coach for the Chicago Bandits of the NPF during the summer and earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2019.
Lappin came from Roosevelt University, where she spent four seasons with UMSL head coach Amanda Scott.
Alongside Scott, Lappin was a vital part of the Roosevelt softball program since its inception in the spring of 2013. Her expertise and teaching helped the Lakers become one of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference's top offensive forces since their debut season, with Roosevelt finishing second in the league in team hitting in 2013 and fourth in 2014.
Lappin also brings extensive international experience from her time with the U.S. National Team from 2003-2010. She was a member of the 2008 silver medal-winning squad at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and helped the U.S. win the 2010 World Championship. She was also a 2004 alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Athens and helped Team USA to World Cup Championships in 2007 and 2010 as well as gold at the 2007 Pan American Games.
Lappin played collegiately at powerhouse Stanford from 2003-2006 and was a two-time NFCA All-American and was twice named PAC 10 Defensive Player of the Year. She was also named to the 2006 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team.
The native of Anaheim, Calif., retired from a five-year career playing professional softball on the National Pro Fastpitch circuit in March of 2015. She last played professionally for the Pennsylvania Rebellion, an NPF team based in Washington, Pa., during the 2014 season. She helped the Rebellion compete with eventual champion USSSA Pride in championship series play to cap the Pennsylvania team's inaugural campaign.
Lappin previously played for the USSSA Pride, winning the NPF Championship in 2010 and teaming with the likes of fellow U.S. Olympians such as Jessica Mendoza, Natasha Watley, Caitlin Lowe and many others.
Lappin graduated from Stanford in 2006 with a degree in American Studies.
