Devine announced on Friday, March 20, that former Buccaneer letterwinner and graduate assistant Lauren Baufield has been hired as ETSU’s new assistant coach.

Baufield, who played for Devine from 2007-10, spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons as ETSU’s graduate assistant and was an assistant coach for the Bucs in 2013. Baufield spent this past season as an assistant under Michelle Piantadosi at Eckerd College. 

“Having Lauren come back to her alma mater is very special for the ETSU volleyball program,” said Devine. “As a former student-athlete, graduate assistant and assistant coach, Lauren really understands the high expectations we have within this program. She brings a high level of intensity, enthusiasm and passion, which will resonate with recruits immediately. It’s great to have Lauren back with the Buccaneer family.” 

Baufield is also happy to be back in the blue and gold. 

“I am excited and grateful for the chance to come back to ETSU,” said Baufield. “I want to thank Coach Devine and ETSU for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to working with the team, start recruiting and helping the Bucs win championships.”

During her three-year stint as a coach, Baufield helped guide the Blue and Gold to 60 wins, their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance (2012) and a regular season conference championship in 2013. 

In 2012, Baufield saw ETSU win 23 matches and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Buccaneer history after the Blue and Gold won the Atlantic Sun Championship in Nashville. A year later, the Bucs registered a program-best 16 conference wins en route to earning an A-Sun regular season title. 

From 2011-13, Baufield helped coach nine all-conference recipients, including Megan Devine receiving A-Sun Player of the Year honors, while the 2012 team set the all-time record for block assists (613) and posted the fifth-most kills (1781). 

The Bucs also received the AVCA Team Academic Award all three years during Baufield’s coaching stint, while four players were placed on the A-Sun All-Academic Team in 2012 and Meredith Hardy landed Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in 2013. 

In her one season at Eckerd, Baufield saw three players receive all-conference honors, including freshman libero Kaitlyn Sibson, who recorded 468 digs, which ranked second-most in single-season history for the Tritons. 

In her four-year playing career that included 113 matches, Baufield amassed 743 digs, 519 kills, 113 assists, 83 service aces, and 76 blocks. Baufield registered six double-doubles in her career, while posting a career-high 18 kills on Nov. 17, 2010 against Kennesaw State. In addition, Baufield recorded double figures in digs in 29 career matches, while compiling double digits in kills 13 times.

Baufield played a vital role in helping guide the Blue and Gold to three postseason appearances during her playing career. In ETSU’s three A-Sun Tournament appearances from 2007-10, the Bucs advanced to the semifinals in each of those trips, while making the championship in 2010 after a 26-win campaign, the most victories in the modern era for the Bucs. . 

In addition to her solid numbers, Baufield also earned the annual Buc Heart Award three straight times. The award, which is given annually at the ETSU volleyball banquet, honors a member of the team that shows the most heart, passion, and determination. 

A three-time Atlantic Sun All-Academic honoree and three-time team captain, Baufield graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in the spring of 2011. In 2013, Baufield earned her master's degree in Sport Management from ETSU.