The newly formed Nebraska women’s flag football team announced its first two hires, naming Liz Sowers as head coach and her twin sister Katie Sowers as associate head coach, the same jobs as their previous stop at NAIA Ottawa University. The two led the Braves to five national championships in the team’s first five years and an 88-8 record, including a perfect 23-0 season in 2025.
“We are thrilled to bring Liz and Katie Sowers to Lincoln to build our women’s flag football program,” Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen said. “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.”
The two will stay at Ottawa for the 2026 spring season, then move to Lincoln to begin the process of starting a new program.
“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 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.”
Husker fans will have to wait until the spring of 2028 before they can see what the Sowers will do, but the anticipation is there for the coaches.
“I am proud to join the Nebraska family as part of the first coaching staff in program history,” Katie said. “This is a fanbase that lives and breathes excellence, and I can’t wait to give this amazing fanbase another sport to rally behind.”
Liz was a seven-time first-team All-American for the Kansas City Titans, and played for multiple national women’s tackle and flag football teams, winning two gold medals in tackle football in 2013 (Finland) and 2017(Canada) and another in flag football in 2018 (Panama).
Katie has spent time in the NFL on various coaching staffs. She was with the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2017, the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2021 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. Both the Falcons and 49ers made the Super Bowl with her on the staff. She was also selected for the Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
The 2025 Braves team went 23-0, with senior quarterback Madysen Carrera throwing for 5,651 yards, 96 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Carrera also had 280 yards on the ground with an additional 10 touchdowns. Ottawa’s offense averaged 37.13 points per game and had a total of 121 touchdowns.
Katie, who was the defensive coordinator for the Braves, helped her defense snag 49 interceptions and 97 pass breakups. Katie’s defense allowed just 6.96 points per game, allowing 25 total touchdowns and shutting out 13 of their opponents.