Sarah Lautenbach is in her sixth year as the head coach of the Willamette University women's lacrosse team in 2023-24. She has been the Bearcats' head coach since the fall of 2017. She spent 2017-18 recruiting and inititating a club team in preparation for the team's first intercollegiate season in 2018-19.

Willamette finished the 2023 season with a 13-5 overall record, including 9-3 in the NWC as the Bearcats tied for second place in the regular season standings. The Bearcats qualified for the inaugural NWC Tournament and defeated Whitman College 14-13 in overtime in the semifinals before falling to George Fox University 20-12 in the NWC Championship game. Seven Bearcats were chosen First Team or Second Team All-NWC.

In 2022, Willamette achieved a 12-5 overall record and took second place in the Northwest Conference with an 9-3 mark. The Bearcats scored 13.5 goals per game and held opponents to 10.1 goals per game. WU earned 17 or more goals eight times and allowed fewer than 10 goals a total of 10 times. A total of 10 players earned All-Conference honors in 2022.

The Bearcats finished the 2021 season with an 8-3 overall record, including a tie for second place in the Northwest Conference standings with a 7-3 mark. Willamette averaged 14.3 goals per game. Seven different Bearcats scored 10 or more goals. On defense, Willamette limited opponents to just 10.0 goals per game.

Sarah Lautenbach giving high-fives

Prior to arriving at Willamette, Lautenbach spent five years as an assistant women's lacrosse coach and defensive coordinator at Fresno State University (Calif.) of NCAA Division I. Lautenbach joined the Fresno State coaching staff in July of 2012. She was promoted to first assistant coach in 2014.

Lautenbach helped Fresno State earn its first winning record in the spring of 2017, as the Bulldogs went 9-7. In her first season in 2013, Fresno set a team record with 212 groundballs. The Bulldogs began competing in women's lacrosse in 2009.

Sarah Lautenbach talks with the team during a timeout.

Prior to being an assistant at Fresno State, Lautenbach was the head coach of women's lacrosse for two seasons at Holy Family University (Pa.), which competes in NCAA Division II. She improved the team from 0-12 in the year prior to her arrival to a 10-7 record during her first season in 2010, as the Tigers led Division II with a +10 improvement in wins. Holy Family earned a berth in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament in 2010 and 2011. Lautenbach was a volunteer assistant coach at Drexel University (Pa.) of NCAA Division I for the 2012 season. Drexel qualified for the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

Lautenbach received a Bachelor of Science degree from Old Dominion University in 2007 with a major in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. While attending ODU, she was a starting midfielder on the women's lacrosse team, which competes in NCAA Division I. She was coached by former U.S. National Team Head Coach Sue Stahl. Before transferring to Old Dominion, Lautenbach attended Sacred Heart University for one year. At Sacred Heart, she played varsity ice hocky and women's lacrosse for the Pioneeers.

Lautenbach lives in Salem with her husband, Rich, and their daughter, Vada.