Record-Setting Alum Lauren Floris Named Cross Country/Track Head Coach
5/7/2021 11:00:00 AM | Cross Country, Track
MALIBU, California – Lauren Floris, one of the top distance runners in Pepperdine cross country and track history, is returning to Malibu as the Waves' new head coach, Director of Athletics Dr. Steve Potts announced today.
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"My time as a student-athlete at Pepperdine was incredibly influential in my life and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to return to Malibu in this capacity," Floris said. "It is truly a dream come true. We have an amazing group of athletes right now, both current and incoming, which will certainly make for exciting 2021-22 seasons."
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Floris, whose maiden name is Lodge, set five school records for the Waves between 2008-12. Since graduating, she's been a head cross country coach and assistant track coach at Orange Lutheran High School in 2015-16 and an assistant coach at California Baptist University from 2016-19.
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She will take over the men's and women's cross country and track programs on June 7.
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"We are very excited to welcome Lauren Floris back to Pepperdine Athletics as the head coach of our men's and women's cross country and track teams," Potts said. "Lauren is one of the most accomplished runners that we have ever had in our programs' histories and she has continued to distinguish herself in her sport since she left Pepperdine. Lauren's strong commitment to our Christian mission and the holistic development of our student-athletes makes her a great fit for this position. I am thankful that Lauren has agreed to provide the leadership for our cross country and track programs."
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She had an exceptional career with the Waves both in racing and in the classroom. Floris earned three-time West Coast Conference All-Academic first team honors, was a four-time WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient and was a Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete. She and teammate Chelsea Wishard are the last two members of the women's cross country team to earn All-WCC honors back in 2010. Floris placed fifth at the 2010 WCC Championships.
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She set school records (that are all still active) in the women's 5K in cross country and in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meters and the steeplechase in outdoor track.
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In 2018, Floris founded Up + Running, which coaches distance runners online and produces a podcast about the latest news in distance running. She began competing in marathons in 2013, which culminated with a spot in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials.
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She graduated from Pepperdine in 2012 with a degree in accounting, and later earned a master's degree in kinesiology from California Baptist in 2017. She has Level 1 coaching certification from USA Track & Field.
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Floris is a native of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. She is married to Henri Floris, a fellow Pepperdine graduate who also ran for the cross country and track teams. They have two daughters, Lavinia and Marigold.
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"My time as a student-athlete at Pepperdine was incredibly influential in my life and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to return to Malibu in this capacity," Floris said. "It is truly a dream come true. We have an amazing group of athletes right now, both current and incoming, which will certainly make for exciting 2021-22 seasons."
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Floris, whose maiden name is Lodge, set five school records for the Waves between 2008-12. Since graduating, she's been a head cross country coach and assistant track coach at Orange Lutheran High School in 2015-16 and an assistant coach at California Baptist University from 2016-19.
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She will take over the men's and women's cross country and track programs on June 7.
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"We are very excited to welcome Lauren Floris back to Pepperdine Athletics as the head coach of our men's and women's cross country and track teams," Potts said. "Lauren is one of the most accomplished runners that we have ever had in our programs' histories and she has continued to distinguish herself in her sport since she left Pepperdine. Lauren's strong commitment to our Christian mission and the holistic development of our student-athletes makes her a great fit for this position. I am thankful that Lauren has agreed to provide the leadership for our cross country and track programs."
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She had an exceptional career with the Waves both in racing and in the classroom. Floris earned three-time West Coast Conference All-Academic first team honors, was a four-time WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient and was a Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete. She and teammate Chelsea Wishard are the last two members of the women's cross country team to earn All-WCC honors back in 2010. Floris placed fifth at the 2010 WCC Championships.
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She set school records (that are all still active) in the women's 5K in cross country and in the 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 meters and the steeplechase in outdoor track.
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In 2018, Floris founded Up + Running, which coaches distance runners online and produces a podcast about the latest news in distance running. She began competing in marathons in 2013, which culminated with a spot in the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials.
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She graduated from Pepperdine in 2012 with a degree in accounting, and later earned a master's degree in kinesiology from California Baptist in 2017. She has Level 1 coaching certification from USA Track & Field.
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Floris is a native of Hopkinton, Massachusetts. She is married to Henri Floris, a fellow Pepperdine graduate who also ran for the cross country and track teams. They have two daughters, Lavinia and Marigold.
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