Valparaiso softball head coach Jordan Stevens announced today that Lauren Ebstein has been hired as an assistant coach for the Crusader softball program, working directly with the Valpo pitchers and catchers. Ebstein comes to Valpo after spending two seasons as an assistant at Colgate.

"Lauren is going to be a great addition to our staff as our pitching coach," said Stevens. "Her prior experiences at Tufts and Colgate, as well as her playing career, have prepared her well and we are fortunate to be able to call her a Crusader. Her ability to teach, plan and her championship mentality will do nothing but make our battery better."

In her two seasons at Colgate, Ebstein helped guide the Raiders to a 28-11 mark in Patriot League play, including the league regular season title in 2011. She coached the PL Pitcher of the Year in 2011 and three All-League selections at pitchers over her two seasons, as well as 10 total All-League choices. Raider pitchers earned league Pitcher of the Week accolades seven times as well.

Prior to arriving at Colgate, Ebstein served as an assistant coach for two seasons at Tufts, helping guide the squad to a fourth-place finish at the Division III College World Series in 2009. Part of the NFCA Division III New England Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009, Ebstein helped coach a pair of conference championship squads and 14 All-Conference honorees over her two seasons, including the NESCAC Pitcher of the Year. A pair of players also earned NFCA All-American honors during her tenure as well.

Ebstein was a four-year letterwinner for the Tufts softball team, during which time the team won a NESCAC championship in 2007 and appeared in three NCAA Regionals. She also was selected as a team captain for her senior year. Ebstein graduated from Tufts in May of 2007 with a bachelor's degree in English and psychology, and received her master's degree in journalism from Boston University in January of 2009.