Biola University Athletics

Lorie Coleman took over as the head coach of Biola Softball in 2010. She took over the coaching duties at Biola after spending the previous 10 years as a travel ball coach. She coached the Eagles for nine seasons and led the team to two NAIA National Championship appearances and through its transition into NCAA Division II.
 

Coleman's Record at Biola Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Biola 2018 TOTAL   Overall 20-25 27-26 15-29 25-28 36-14 36-20 21-30-1 21-22-2 transitions 33-19 234-213-3 (.523) GSAC 9-15 (5th) 8-12 (4th) 1-15 (5th) 7-9 (4th) 13-7 (2nd) 16-8 (2nd) 7-17 (7th) 8-16 (6th) to the 16-16 (7th) 85-115 (.425) Playoffs GSAC Tournament - 2nd Rd GSAC Tournament - 1st Rd - GSAC Tournament - 2nd Rd NAIA Nationals - 1st Rd NAIA Nationals - 1st Rd - - PacWest Conference -

She had quite a fair amount of success in the travel ball circuit with one national championship and national runner-up and regional runner-up teams.

Softball and ministry are two of Coleman's passions and she gets a chance to do both in one place in her work with the Eagles. 

Her first few years at the helm were a struggle as she and the coaching staff worked to revamp the team's roster and establish themselves in recruiting circles.

The 2014 and 2015 seasons were when Biola Softball began to cement itself as a top NAIA program under Coleman's leadership. She coached the team to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in each of those seasons. Prior to 2014 Biola Softball had only reached the NAIA postseason one other time (2002).

Biola found itself in the top-15 of the national rankings in 2014 and 2015 as she coached the team to a 72-34 overall record for those two seasons. She also coached two NAIA All-Americans through her first six seasons (CeCe Luster, Reba DePriest).

The Eagles continued to cross the 20-win threshold in 2016 and 2017 but found itself on the outside of postseason play. But Coleman's team showed signs of an upward swing headed into NCAA Division II competition. The Eagles went 13-9 at Freedom Field in 2017 after collecting seven wins at home in 2016. 

The team bounced back in a big way in 2018, which was Coleman's last season at Biola and the Eagles' first in NCAA Division II. Biola ended the year 33-19 and was .500 (16-16) during its first year of PacWest play. It was the Eagles' third 30-win season in Coleman's nine years at the helm. She earned National Christian College Athletic Association West Region Coach of the Year honors and led her team to three All-PacWest honors, including helping Areana Ramos win PacWest Newcomer of the Year.

Coleman played high school softball and graduated with honors after leading her team to a conference championship. She also worked in women's ministry from 1995-2002.

She and her husband, Michael, have been married since 1988 and have three children (Vanessa, Jordan and Izabella). Her daughter, Vanessa, played four seasons under her at Biola. Her nieces, Kristin and Leslie Larson, also played for the Eagles.

When she's not coaching she loves teaching Bible studies and reading books.

She and her family reside in Apple Valley, Calif.