Lindsay Gardner was named the head softball coach at Cal Lutheran University in August 2026, bringing more than 20 years of coaching experience and a decorated playing career to the Regals.
Gardner most recently served as an assistant coach with Shalhevet High School Baseball, helping guide the program to a League Championship in 2026 after a third-place finish the previous season. She previously spent five seasons as the head softball coach at St. Edward’s University from 2011-16 after serving as an assistant coach with the program from 2006-08. During her time as head coach, she oversaw all aspects of the program, including recruiting, academic progress, fundraising, NCAA compliance and staff development.
In 2016, Gardner founded Just Dig In, an athletic consulting company through which she provides hitting instruction and video analysis to collegiate, high school and professional athletes. She also served as a hitting coach and consultant for the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League in 2022, working with professional hitters on mindset and run production while utilizing Rapsodo data and video analysis.
Gardner's coaching career is complemented by an accomplished playing career at the University of Texas. A 2022 inductee into the University of Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, she was a three-time Big 12 All-Conference and Tournament Team selection and earned Easton and Daktronics All-American and All-Region honors. Gardner helped the Longhorns finish third at the 2003 Women's College World Series and was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
Following her collegiate career, Gardner competed internationally as a member of the USA National Softball Team in 2001 and 2002. She then spent five seasons in National Pro Fastpitch from 2004-08, earning three All-Star selections, Defensive Player of the Year honors at second base in 2004 and a Home Run Derby championship in 2008.
Gardner earned her bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.
