On February 26, 2026, the University of Nebraska announced the hiring of Liz Sowers as the first head coach of its new women’s flag football program. This marks a significant step for the Cornhuskers, who became the first Power Four conference school to add women’s flag football as a varsity sport in January 2026. Sowers will be joined by her twin sister, Katie Sowers, who will serve as associate head coach. The duo will transition to Lincoln starting June 1, 2026, after completing the current season at their previous institution.
Liz Sowers brings an impressive championship pedigree to Nebraska. She most recently served as head coach at Ottawa University in Kansas, where she led the women’s flag football team to five consecutive NAIA National Championships. Under her leadership, Ottawa also secured five straight Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) titles. Sowers compiled an 88-8 overall record as a head coach, earning three-time KCAC Coach of the Year honors. She has demonstrated strong recruiting ability, bringing in athletes from 17 states and four countries.
Her experience extends beyond the collegiate level. Sowers served as defensive coordinator for the 2023 USA Women’s National Flag Football Team, which captured a gold medal at the Continental Championships while allowing the fewest points in team history. She also head-coached the 2022 USA 17U Girls Junior National Team to a gold medal at the Junior National Championships.
As a player, Sowers was a standout in both flag and tackle football. She earned seven First-Team All-American selections with the Kansas City Titans and competed for teams including the West Michigan Mayhem, Kansas City Tribe, and Kansas City Glory. Internationally, she represented the United States on the Women’s Flag Football teams in 2016, 2018, and 2021, and on the Women’s Tackle Football teams in 2013 and 2017, securing multiple gold medals.
Katie Sowers, the associate head coach, adds further depth with her own notable background. She previously coached for three NFL teams—the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs—and served as head coach of the Italian Women’s National Flag Football team in 2023-24.
University of Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen expressed strong enthusiasm for the hire, stating, “We are thrilled to bring Liz and Katie Sowers to Lincoln to build our women’s flag football program. Together, they have built a championship program at the NAIA level and have experienced success working with national teams. They have a great vision for what flag football can become at the University of Nebraska and also understand the potential for the sport and the opportunities it will provide for young women across the collegiate landscape.”
Liz Sowers echoed the excitement about the new chapter, saying: “This is the start of a new era, and we intend to set the standard. It’s an honor to lead the first flag football program at Nebraska, and even more meaningful to build it alongside my twin sister in a place with such deep tradition. We want young girls across Nebraska to see this team and know there’s a future here for them.”
The program is slated to begin competitive play in the spring of 2028, giving the Sowers sisters time to recruit, build infrastructure, and establish a foundation for success. This hiring underscores Nebraska’s commitment to expanding opportunities in emerging women’s sports, particularly as flag football gains momentum toward potential Olympic inclusion and greater collegiate visibility. With the Sowers’ proven track record, the Huskers are positioned to make an immediate impact in this growing arena.