Lauren Gibson joined the Bethune-Cookman softball program as the Wildcats’ newest assistant coach in August 2016. Gibson will serve as B-CU’s hitting coach, while also working with the infield.
Gibson arrived to Bethune-Cookman from the University of South Florida, where she spent two years with the Bulls program as a graduate assistant coach. While in Tampa, she worked in a variety of areas including the hitters, infield and outfield.
“I was really interested in Bethune-Cookman because of the history of the school and softball program,” expressed Gibson after her hiring. “I also loved the coaching philosophy of Coach [Laura] Watten, and the comradery between Tiffany [Johnson] and myself, right from the beginning. I just thought it was a really good match for me.”
For two years (2013-14), Gibson served as a member of the USA Softball Women’s National Team. In 2012, she was a U.S. Senior National Team Member. She would go on to win the gold medal at the World Cup of Softball VII, and later claiming silver in the Canadian Open Championship and the ISF Fastpitch World Championships. She led all players on the U.S. team with a .500 batting average and tied for the team lead with 24 hits.
Furthermore, she claimed gold medals at the World Cup of Softball VI in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and at the XVI Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. She completed the Pan Am Games with a .529 batting average, scoring eight runs, amassing three triples, a home run and driving in eight RBIs.
Lauren Gibson played four years at the University of Tennessee, helping the Volunteers to an appearance in the 2013 Women’s College World Series title series against Oklahoma. For her efforts, she was named to the 2013 WCWS All-Tournament Team, in addition to being the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year. She would go on to collect other numerus awards which include NFCA First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Defensive Team and SEC All-Tournament Team.
She started all 64 games for the Lady Volunteers as a senior, all games coming at second base. She would cap the campaign hitting .401 with a career-best 19 home runs (15th-most in the nation), 68 RBIs, 14 doubles, 68 runs, a .802 slugging percentage and .538 on-base percentage.
Other career highlights at Tennessee for the Pasadena, Maryland native include being honored to the 2012 Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-America team as a junior, and Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-Region Team. She would also earn the first of back-to-back appearances on the Preseason All-SEC Team.
In her rookie season of 2010, Gibson was tabbed Freshman All-SEC, as well as earning SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll recognition. Her sophomore year saw her pick up 2011 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-America (First Team) honors; Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Southeast Region (First Team); 2012 All-SEC (2nd Team); 2012 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll; Top 50 "Watch List" for 2012 USA Softball Player of the Year.
Gibson graduated from Tennessee in 2013, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She would finish her Master’s Degree from USF, earning that in Entrepreneurship.
Lauren Gibson is the daughter of Steve and Lorrie Gibson, and has one older sister – Danielle Gibson.
