TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Softball's Lauren Lappin has been promoted to Associate Head Coach after five years on staff as an assistant coach, head coach Caitlin Lowe announced on Saturday.
 
"I am thrilled to announce Lauren's promotion to Associate Head Coach," Lowe said. "She has worked tirelessly to make our team better every year and is extremely passionate about coaching and developing our team into great players and even better humans. I'm very proud of how she represents the Block A and can't wait for her to leave her mark on future Wildcats."
 
Lappin has served as the program's primary defensive coach since she was hired ahead of the 2022 season and has helped the Wildcats post two of the top four single-season fielding percentages in 2023 (.985) and 2024 (.980). Arizona's 2023 squad recorded a .985 fielding percentage to set the program record and Lappin led Arizona to a program record of 46 double plays in the 2026 season. Arizona's defense has consistently ranked in the top half of the conference in fielding percentage since Lappin joined the staff in 2022.
 
During Lappin's five seasons at Arizona, three Wildcats have earned conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and from 2023-2025, Arizona won three-straight Rawlings Gold Glove awards. Lappin helped the Wildcats to back-to-back Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors with Allie Skaggs in 2023 and Tayler Biehl in 2024 and Regan Shockey became the first Wildcat to be named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2026. Additionally, ten players have earned conference All-Defensive team status since 2022 under Lappin's guidance.