Lauren Lappin has been by Caitlin Lowe‘s side since the former Arizona softball star took over as head coach at her alma mater. Lappin’s loyalty is being rewarded with a promotion to associate head coach that was announced on Saturday morning.
On game days, Lappin can be seen coaching third base, where television commentators regularly
mistake her for Lowe. On practice days, she’s in charge of one of the most critical pieces of Arizona’s game: defense.
She has led the defense as it produced three conference defensive players of the year, including the final two of the old Pac-12. Allie Skaggs was crowned the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 after completing a season with a perfect fielding percentage at second base. The Pac-12 gave the honor to shortstop Tayler Biehl in 2024. In 2026, centerfielder Regan Shockey picked up the award in the Big 12.
The Wildcats also had three straight seasons with a Gold Glove winner under Lappin’s guidance. Skaggs won in 2023. Dakota Kennedy got the nod in 2024. Devyn Netz, who was a star in the circle and at first base, received a Gold Glove honor in 2025.
The former All-American at Stanford helped the Wildcats set a program record for double plays in a season in 2026. The team led Division I with 46 double plays in 55 games. The next closest was South Florida, which had five fewer double plays in five more games than the Wildcats.
Arizona had 0.84 double plays per game, well in front of the Bulls’ 0.67. It was the second straight season the Wildcats finished in the top 10 for double plays per game.
Arizona finished the season with a .973 fielding percentage. Their 39 errors rank eighth in program history for fewest errors in a season.
In the five years that Lappin has taken point on defense, the Wildcats have fielding percentages of .965 in 2022, .985 in 2023, .980 in 2024, .975 in 2025, and .973 in 2026. The 2023 percentage was the best in program history while 2024 was fourth.
Lappin played for Stanford from 2003-06 at shortstop and catcher. She was named Pac-10 DPOY in 2005 and 2006. She was NFCA All-American in 2004 (second team) and 2005 (third team).
She continued her playing career as a professional and a member of the US national team, where she won a silver medal alongside Lowe, former UA head coach Mike Candrea, and former Wildcats Jennie Finch and Lovieanne Jung.
Lappin and pitching coach Christian Conrad will return to Lowe’s staff next year along with a to-be-announced hitting coach. Former hitting coach Amber Freeman was announced as the new assistant for the two-time defending champion Texas Longhorns last week. The job has already been posted to Arizona’s website.
