USM names Lauren Pittman as Associate Head Basketball Coach

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (USM Athletics) — Southern Miss women’s basketball head coach Missy Bilderback today announced that former Lady Eagle letter winner and assistant coach Lauren Pittman will return to the Hub City to serve as the program’s associate head coach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Lauren Pittman back home as our Associate Head Coach,” said Bilderback. “Coach Pitt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program. First, she is a great person who truly coaches because she loves to invest in others. She is a relentless recruiter and her ability to identify and develop top talent is second to none. Coach Pitt is one of the smartest and hardworking coaches in the business, and she has been a crucial part of our success throughout our stops together.  I am so grateful to have her on this journey at Southern Miss and excited for the impact she will have on our young women.”

The upcoming 2025-26 season will be her fourth overall as a member of the Lady Eagles’ staff and her eighth overall year with the program. It also marks her eighth overall season working with Coach Bilderback. The pair have worked together at three stops, including Jones College (2015-16, 2019-23), ULM (2023-24) and now Southern Miss.

“I am grateful that the next part of my career will be at home at Southern Miss,” said Pittman. “I have a tremendous amount of belief in Coach Bilderback and a tremendous amount of love for this institution and program. Being able to continue the journey to compete for championships here with her was an easy choice.”

In two seasons at ULM as the program’s associate head coach, Pittman helped the Warhawks to success unseen in nearly 40 years. Her first season in Monroe saw the Warhawks post a 21-14 campaign and the program’s first postseason win in 39 years. As associate head coach, Pittman helped oversee the program while working primarily with the guards on the court.

Under her tutelage, the Warhawks garnered three slots on the All-Sun Belt squads. The 2023-24 season saw Daisha Bradford earn second team laurels while Jakayla Johnson checked in on the third team. In the 2024-25 season, Johnson earned first team All-SBC honors.

Before her two seasons in Monroe, Pittman enjoyed two stints with Bilderback at Jones College (Ellisville, Miss.). Most recently from 2019-23, she helped the Bobcats post a combined 95-17 (.848) record. The team reached 20 wins in all four campaigns while capturing three MACJC/MACCC Titles, four NJCAA Region 23 Titles and four trips to the NJCAA Tournament.

Together, Pittman and Bilderback coach 10 NJCAA All-Americans and saw 22 Bobcats sign with Division I programs. The 2021-22 squad posted a 25-8 record with three ranked wins to help the program earn its first-ever No. 1 national ranking. The Bobcats rolled all the way to the NJCAA Final Four, setting a program record for the best postseason appearance by any team.

Prior to her second stint in Ellisville, Pittman worked three seasons at Southern Miss under Joye Lee-McNelis. While with her alma mater from 2016-19, the Lady Eagles tallied 56 total wins with two trips to the postseason. In her first year, Southern Miss advanced to the Conference USA Championship Game and posted a 23-11 ledger before earning a bid to the 2017 WNIT.

Pittman arrived back at Southern Miss after one season at Jones College where she first worked under Coach Bilderback. She was a member of Bilderback’s first staff in Ellisville, helping the Bobcats to a 19-7 overall record. In her five combined seasons in Ellisville, JC posted a combined 114-24.

Before joining Bilderback’s inaugural staff, Pittman worked as a coach and teacher at Petal High School from 2012-15. She oversaw the school’s girls’ strength and conditioning program while serving as an assistant coach for the girls’ basketball team.

Pittman first arrived in Hattiesburg as a high school signee after prepping at Wayne County High School (Waynesboro, Miss.). She earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors in the 2006-07 campaign before redshirting as a sophomore due to a shoulder injury. She earned three letters as a Lady Eagle with appearances in 71 games and 31 starts.

She finished her bachelor’s degree in sports coaching education at Southern Miss in 2014 in addition to a minor in biological sciences.

USM Athletics first published this article. The Vicksburg Daily News republished it here under a Creative Commons license.

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