LSU Gold

Lori Osterberg Season 2024

LSU
Lori Osterberg
Title
Assistant Coach
Email
loster@lsu.edu

An assistant for LSU during the 2001 season, Lori Osterberg rejoined the Tigers coaching staff in 2004 after two years as a teacher and softball coach at North Scott High School in Eldridge, Iowa, and now enters her fourth season at LSU.

One of head coach Yvette Girouard’s former players, Osterberg brings collegiate playing experience to the Tiger coaching staff. At LSU, Osterberg works with the Tiger infield and hitters and serves as the recruiting co-coordinator.

In 2004, she, Girouard and James DeFeo were named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association South Region Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Tigers to their second WCWS appears. The trio was also named the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2001 after they led LSU to its first WCWS berth.

“We are absolutely ecstatic that Lori has rejoined our program,” said Girouard. “She is the complete package in an assistant coach. She is a fantastic teacher and a great motivator.”

Osterberg’s main duties include working with the hitters and the infielders as well as recruiting and practice management. Her work with James DeFeo and the Tiger hitters has paid off as LSU ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in batting average and scoring, while ranking fifth in doubles per game last season. Two years ago, the Tigers ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in batting average, in the top 15 in slugging percentage and home runs per game and in the top 35 in triples per game.

In 2004, LSU broke the school record and led the Southeastern Conference in home runs, while LSU ranked second in the league in batting average, runs scored, hits, triples and RBIs. Individually, then-freshman All-American Leslie Klein ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in every hitting category and ranked in the top 50 in the NCAA in slugging percentage, runs per game and RBIs per game. The Tigers had at least two players ranked in the top 10 individually in the SEC in every hitting category, including five of the top 10 individuals ranked in total bases.

Her work with the LSU infield also paid off last season as defensively the Tigers committed the second fewest errors of any team in the SEC, while ranking fifth in team fielding percentage.

In her first season at North Scott High School, Osterberg guided the softball program to the Iowa state championship in 2002. She then led her team to the state championship game in 2003. For her efforts she was named the East Iowa Regional Coach of the Year both seasons.

In 1999, Osterberg served as a student assistant under Girouard at ULL and graduated with a degree in secondary level special education. She then returned home to Iowa where she coached basketball, volleyball and softball and taught special education at North Scott High School for one year in 2000.

Osterberg was the starting shortstop for UL-Lafayette from 1994-97 and was a member of two Women’s College World Series teams. While playing for the Lady Cajuns, she earned All-South honors and was a three-time All-Louisiana selection. She finished her collegiate career with a .336 batting average, 12 home runs and 44 doubles.

“Lori was the epitome of the term ‘student-athlete’,” said Girouard. “She was a joy to coach every day and is a bigger pleasure to associate with as a person on a daily basis in her role as an assistant coach. She is an individual who makes everyone around her better because of the quality person she is.”