Five-time national champion coach Liz Sowers has been named the first head coach in the history of Nebraska women’s flag football, Director of Athletics Troy Dannen announced Thursday. Her twin sister, Katie Sowers, will serve as associate head coach. The Sowers sisters arrive from Ottawa University (Kan.), where they have built one of the NAIA’s premier flag football programs. Liz has served as head coach, with Katie as associate head coach, and the duo will complete the current season at Ottawa before transitioning to Lincoln on June 1, 2026. In January, Nebraska became the first Power Four institution to add women’s flag football as a varsity sport. The Huskers are slated to begin competition in the spring of 2028. “We are thrilled to bring Liz and Katie Sowers to Lincoln to build our women’s flag football program,” Dannen said. “They have built a championship culture at the NAIA level and have experience working with national teams. They understand the potential of this sport and the opportunities it will create for young women.”
A Championship Pedigree
Liz Sowers leaves Ottawa after an extraordinary run. She led the program to five consecutive NAIA National Championships and five straight Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) titles. A three-time KCAC Coach of the Year, she owns an impressive 88-8 career record and has recruited athletes from 17 states and four countries.
“This is the start of a new era, and we intend to set the standard,” Liz said. “It’s an honor to lead the first flag football program at Nebraska, and even more meaningful to build it alongside my twin sister. We want young girls across Nebraska to see this team and know there’s a future here for them.”
Beyond the college level, Liz has also excelled internationally. She served as defensive coordinator for the USA Women’s National Team in 2023, helping the team win gold at the Continental Championships while allowing the fewest points in team history. She previously coached the 17U Girls Junior National Team to a gold medal in 2022.
As a player, Liz was a seven-time First-Team All-American with the Kansas City Titans and competed on multiple USA Women’s Flag and Tackle National Teams, earning multiple gold medals. She played collegiate basketball at Hesston College and Oakland University and holds degrees from Oakland and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
NFL and International Experience
Katie Sowers brings a diverse and high-level résumé to Nebraska. At Ottawa, she has served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator, and director of operations during the program’s championship run.
Internationally, Katie was head coach of the Italian Women’s National Flag Football Team from 2023-24, organizing selection camps, implementing systems, and leading the team to a victory over Germany. “I am proud to join the Nebraska family as part of the first coaching staff in program history,” Katie said. “This fanbase lives and breathes excellence, and I’m excited to give them another sport to rally behind.” Katie also brings NFL experience, having worked with the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Atlanta Falcons. She participated in the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Chiefs, served as an offensive quality control coach with the 49ers from 2017-21, and worked in player personnel with the Falcons from 2015-17.A former multi-sport collegiate athlete, Katie holds degrees from Goshen College and the University of Central Missouri.
With the Sowers sisters at the helm, Nebraska’s women’s flag football program begins its journey with championship credentials, international experience, and a vision to set the standard at the Power Four level.