Lauren Hawley

Lauren Hawley joined the UNC Pembroke Braves softball coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2022. She brought to the role several years of collegiate and high school coaching experience. Prior to arriving at Pembroke, Hawley spent three seasons (2020–22) on the coaching staff at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, where her efforts contributed to a 67-27-1 overall record and included a standout 32-7 season in 2021 in which the staff was named Ohio Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year. Hawley’s playing career was notable as well: she was a four-year starter at Slippery Rock University (2015–18) where she earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Catcher of the Year award twice, posted a .276 batting average, played in 155 games, and recorded strong defensive statistics (.988 fielding percentage) while ranking among the program’s top ten in multiple career categories. (Turn0search3) She earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock in 2018 and her master’s in education from Mount Union in 2021. (Turn0search3) At UNC Pembroke, she works under Head Coach Stephanie Graziani and contributes to player development, recruiting, and daily operations of the softball program. Hawley’s background as both a high-performing player and an experienced assistant coach positions her as an asset in developing student-athletes both on and off the field.