Noren will begin her fifth season as an assistant coach with the softball team here at Saint Martin's in 2016.
She joins her husband, head coach Rick, on staff having helped lead the Saints to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2013, 2015). Noren helped the softball team win the GNAC regular and tournament championship in 2013 and the regular-season championship in 2015.
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Noren works extensively with SMU's pitching staff that has been the best in the GNAC the last two seasons in ERA. In 2013, Sam Munger was named GNAC Pitcher of the Year, while Taylor Bakos was an honorable mention selection. In 2015, Sam Munger was named GNAC Pitcher of the Year and Co-Player of the Year.
She has coached at the club, high school and collegiate level during her career. She served as a coach with the Cobra's 18U club team for six years (1990-96). During the 1991 season she was part of the coaching staff at the University of Puget Sound that earned a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Tournament. She also coached at Green River Community College (1992-93), Pacific Lutheran University (1995-2005) and most recently as an assistant at Life Christian High School (2009 and 2010).
A 1990 graduate of UPS, Noren played softball for three seasons for the Loggers. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and in 1987 played internationally with Athletes in Action in Lima, Peru. In 1992 she traveled with Major League Baseball as an instructor for youth softball players in Italy and Holland.
An Olympia native, Leanne, resides in University Place with her husband and three children: Kyle (16), Joel (12) and Leah (10).
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