MEDFORD, MA (July 21, 2026) – Tufts University Director of Athletics
Ryan Pisarri announced Tuesday that head softball coach
Lauren Ebstein has resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at Division I Northwestern University. Tufts will begin a national search for its next head softball coach immediately.
"We are thankful for Coach Ebstein and the last seven seasons at Tufts," said Pisarri. "She's continued the tradition of Tufts softball as a consistent winner, both on and off the field," Pisarri said. "We wish Lauren nothing but the best moving forward."
"I am forever grateful to have been a part of and to have led the Tufts softball program," said Ebstein. "The Tufts community and the Tufts softball family is a special place and one that I will always be proud to call home. I am so grateful to Cheryl Milligan for giving me a transformational experience at Tufts as a student-athlete, helping me start my coaching career, and continuing to be a mentor and friend."
"Thank you to John Morris and
Alexis Mastronardi for giving me the chance to continue the legacy of alumni head coaches at Tufts," said Ebstein. "What makes Tufts so special is the people and I am so grateful to have worked with such an extraordinary group of coaches in the athletic department. Thank you to the players, coaches, parents and alumni for helping continue to build a championship culture of excellence. I will miss these people, this place and the Tufts softball family fiercely and I look forward to watching all that they achieve in the future."
Ebstein led her alma mater for the previous seven years, compiling a sterling 228-72 (.780) record during her tenure in charge of the Jumbos. That run includes five 30-win seasons while also going 40-6 in 2023.
The Jumbos qualified for the NCAA Tournament in every season that Ebstein was head coach, making the NCAA Super Regional round two times while making a pair of Division III Women's College World Series appearances. In 2024, she led the Jumbos to their first-ever Super Regional win, defeating Salisbury University and handing them their first NCAA Tournament losses at home since 2011.
Ebstein also led the Jumbos to three New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) titles during her seven seasons, making the title game five times. The Jumbos were the No. 1 seed heading into the NESCAC Tournament five times with Ebstein in charge.
The former standout pitcher for the Jumbos had a reputation for coaching one of the best pitching and defensive teams in the nation during her tenure, as the Jumbos had five NESCAC Defensive Players of the Year under the watch of Ebstein. Her time also featured three NESCAC Pitchers of the Year as well.
Ebstein coached 33 All-NESCAC Performers, two NESCAC Rookies of the Year and nine National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans. She also saw five NFCA /Rawlings Gold Glove honorees.
Ebstein, a Windy City native, returns to the greater Chicago area for her third taste of coaching at the Division I level. Ebstein came to Tufts after also coaching at Valparaiso University and Colgate University. Northwestern was 29-21 last season, posting a very strong 16-8 record within the Big 10 Conference.
Ebstein, a 2007 graduate of Tufts, was on the coaching staff from 2014 through 2018 and part of a pair of NCAA Championship squads in 2014 and 2015. Ebstein is currently ranked No. 9 in Division III among active softball coaches, and was only the fifth head coach in program history dating back to 1985.
Not only was Ebstein a strong leader on the field, but her teams were leaders on campus and in the community.
As part of the Tufts program's involvement in community service under Ebstein, the Jumbos held a Be The Match event on campus to add names to the bone marrow registry. A match was found from the team's efforts, and a member of the Tufts hockey team donated blood plasma to assist an older man with leukemia.
"Ebs has been a prominent presence at Tufts for so long and it's hard to imagine our department without her," said Deputy Director of Athletics
Alexis Mastronardi. "I know the Jumbo community is both stunned and saddened, but we are also thrilled for Ebs to take this next step in her professional career. Her incredible work ethic has allowed Ebs to take make a name for herself in the Division III softball world and I am confident that she will excel at the next level."
"Coaching at Northwestern will afford Ebs the opportunity to not only be part of a Division I Power Four coaching staff, it will also allow her to be home in Chicago with her family," said Mastronardi. "I wish her the very best as she embarks on this next adventure."
--JUMBOS--
