Lauren Lappin Position: Volunteer Coach Experience: Second Season Alma Mater: Stanford, 2006

Fresh off her medal-winning performance with the U.S. Olympic Team in Beijing, Lauren Lappin joined Northwestern as its volunteer coach prior to the 2009 season and now is in her second year with the Wildcats.

Lapping made an immediate impact on the Wildcats, teaching natural right-handed batters Ashley Lafever and sophomore Robin Thompson to slap from the left side. Thompson went on to earn the leadoff spot in the most potent lineup in Northwestern history, raising her batting average 52 points from her freshman year to .299 as a sophomore. Thompson ended up ranked 24th in the nation in runs per game in 2009.

Lappin also worked extensively with Northwestern's middle infielders, helping four-time NFCA All-American Tammy Williams have her best season on the defensive side of the ball. Williams committed just six errors in 172 chances while making difficult plays appear routine all season long.

Lappin knocked in two runs for Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games, her second stint with the team after being an alternate for the 2004 squad. Her international experience began in 2003 when she led the USA Softball Elite team to the Canada Cup gold medal, earning Top Defensive Player honors in the field.

Following the 2004 Olympics, Lappin had a two year hiatus from the USA Softball program before making her return in a big way in 2007. Lappin ranked fourth in the team during the summer of '07 with a .480 batting average (12-for-25), three home runs and 13 RBIs. She helped the United States win the Pan American Games with a .400 average and three RBIs before scoring three runs and batting .375 during Team USA's gold-medal performance at the World Cup. She also batted .583 at the Canada Cup in 2007, accumulating 10 RBIs with the help of a double, triple and three home runs in the tournament.

Prior to earning her spot back on the Team USA roster, Lappin taught herself how to slap--making herself an even more dangerous weapon at the plate and contributing to her .480 batting average during the 2007 international schedule.

A standout at Stanford from 2003-06, Lappin was a four-time All-Pac-10 selection and a two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year after playing both catcher and shortstop for the Cardinal. She won two NFCA All-America accolades and batted .337 for her collegiate career. In 2004, Lappin was a member of the Women's College World Series All-Tournament team.

Lappin graduated from Stanford in December of 2006 with a degree in American studies.

Professionally, Lappin is a three-year veteran of the PFX Tour. She is a seasoned teacher and clinician, working youth and coaches camps and clinics all over the United States and internationally.

Lappin resides in Chicago.

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