Lizzie Nessling enters her seventh season on the Arkansas State women’s basketball staff in 2026-27. She joined the program as an assistant coach prior to the 2020-21 season and was promoted to associate head coach entering the 2022-23 campaign.
The Chicago native has played a key role in recruiting and developing impact players during her time at A-State. In 2025-26, Nessling helped guide the Red Wolves to a 27-10 overall record and 14-4 mark in Sun Belt play, matching the program record for wins in a season. A-State also advanced to the WNIT Fab 4 for the first time in program history.
The Red Wolves set program records with 386 made 3-pointers, 1,285 attempts, 532 steals and 972 turnovers forced while also breaking the Sun Belt single-season record for steals. Zyion Shannon earned First Team All-Sun Belt and All-Sun Belt Defensive Team honors, Crislyn Rose was named Second Team All-Sun Belt and Mimi McCollister became the first player in program history to earn Sun Belt Sixth Woman of the Year honors.
In 2024-25, Nessling helped build a roster with only three returning players into a team that finished 21-11 overall and 15-3 in Sun Belt play. The Red Wolves won the Sun Belt Conference Tournament title for the first time in program history and earned the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. A-State also led the nation in 3-pointers made per game and 3-point attempts per game while producing two All-Sun Belt selections, two Sun Belt All-Tournament honorees and the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Prior to Arkansas State, Nessling spent two seasons as an assistant at Seward County Community College. In 2019-20, she helped guide the Lady Saints to a 25-7 record and the Region VI Tournament semifinals while coaching two WBCA All-Americans and recruiting KJCCC Co-Freshmen of the Year Tianna Johnson and Leilani Augmon. She also helped Seward to a 30-4 record, Jayhawk West Conference championship, Region VI runner-up finish and NJCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2018-19.
Before Seward, Nessling spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Saint Mary, helping the Lady Spires win 37 games and reach the KCAC Tournament semifinals in both seasons.
A two-time captain at Lincoln University, Nessling earned the program’s “Glue Guy” Award in consecutive years and was named the True Blue Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Nessling earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Saint Mary in 2018 and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Lincoln University in 2016.
