Lani Southwell Position: Assistant Coach Experience: First Season

Lani Southwell enters her first season as an assistant coach of the Bowling Green State University softball team. She joined Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons in the fall of 2007.

Southwell, a native of Valrico, Fla., joins the Falcons after three years as an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University, where she handled hitting and coached the outfielders. In 2007, the Bulldogs hit .295 as a team to set a new school record. Southwell also helped the team set school marks for home runs, extra-base hits, total bases, RBIs and walks.

"I am glad to be a part of the Falcon family," said Southwell. "Bowling Green softball has a strong tradition, and I am excited about helping the program take the next step."

Southwell joined the coaching staff after a stellar four-year playing career at GWU. During her playing days, she set school career records in several categories, finishing as the program's all-time leader in games played, games started and walks. Southwell's walks record still stands, and she is second on the Gardner-Webb lists for games played, games started and triples. Southwell is fourth in hits, RBIs and total bases and fifth in doubles.

Southwell earned a spot in the NCAA record book for her efforts on the base paths, as she stole 55 straight bases spanning her freshman through senior seasons, the fifth-best streak in NCAA Division-I history. During her tenure, she saw action at shortstop, second base and center field.

Twice named Gardner-Webb's Defensive MVP in her career, Southwell shared Offensive MVP honors as a senior and was an Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team selection.

Southwell played professionally for the Michigan Ice in each of the last two seasons. In 2006, her first season, she was the only player to see action in every game for the Ice. The Ice played against other professional teams in the United States as well as against the national teams from several countries.

"I am excited to add Lani to the staff, as she brings a great deal of experience after playing at the top level professionally," said Salsburg. "Additionally, she brings several years of collegiate coaching experience after being a standout player at the collegiate level. I am looking forward to our players benefiting from her expertise in baserunning, and also to her working with our left-handed hitters."