Lauren Gunning

Biography

Lauren Gunning is in her fifth season (2026) with the Women of Troy; her fourth as the program’s Associate Head Coach (2023-current). She previously served as an assistant coach for the Trojans in 2022. Gunning joined USC after seven seasons (2015-21) as a coach at Connecticut where she played lacrosse as a student-athlete (2008-11). She returned to her alma mater in the summer of 2014 and coached her first six seasons as a Huskies assistant. She was elevated to the position of associate head coach in 2021. Before Connecticut, she spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Cincinnati (2012-14). Gunning directed UConn’s offensive unit and helped the Huskies win 59 games during her time with the Huskies. In both 2016 and 2021, Connecticut reached a program-record 12 wins. In 2021, Gunning helped UConn earn a berth into the NCAA tournament for only the second time in program history and for the first time since 2013. While on staff, Gunning coached attacker Grace Nolan who graduated as UConn’s all-time leader in points and goals. Under her guidance, Nolan was named a third-team IWLCA All-American in 2018 and was a two-time Big East Attacker of the Year. Gunning’s efforts also helped Nolan achieve IWLCA All-Northeast Region first-team honors several times and the Big East Rookie of the Year award in 2015. In 2015, her first season at UConn, Gunning helped lead the Huskies to the Big East Tournament title game for the first time and to a fourth straight season in double-digit wi