DSHS hires new basketball coach

DSHShiresnew basketballcoach

Lauren Perez has been named as the next head coach of the girls basketball program at Dripping Springs High School.

An award-winning varsity coach, Perez brings over 15 years of experience — coaching most of her career in Texas, with early roots in Illinois.

From 2015 to 2021, Perez led Pearland High School to 124 wins and a 63-13 district record, capturing multiple District 236A Championships and advancing to six consecutive UIL state playoff appearances and three regional quarterfinals. She also garnered a pair of District 23-6A Coach of the Year accolades and earned the Pearland ISD Athletic Program of the Year in 2019.

Most recently, Perez has spent the last two seasons transforming the girls basketball program at Canyon Lake High School, where she made an impact by elevating team performance and fostering a culture built on leadership, teamwork and growth.

Perez is no stranger to Dripping Springs, having previously served two years as the Girls Athletic Coordinator at Dripping Springs Middle School.

A native of the Chicago area, Perez began her coaching journey as part of the Bolingbrook Lady Raiders staff, contributing to their 2009 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state championship and gaining championship- level experience from the start.

Off the court, Perez is equally committed to student success, having helped dozens of athletes earn academic scholarships and continue their basketball careers at collegiate programs such as the University of Texas at Austin, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and others.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lewis University (Illinois) and will also serve as a history teacher at Dripping Springs High School.