Women’s basketball extends Lisa Carlsen through 2025

NIU+womens+basketball+team+huddled+in+a+circle+before+the+game+on+Feb.+18%2C+2023+against+Ball+State.++The+Huskies+defeated+the+University+of+Central+Michigan+on+Saturday+by+a+final+score+of+70-+57.+%28Northern+Star+file+photo%29

Alyssa Queen

NIU women’s basketball team huddled in a circle before the game on Feb. 18, 2023 against Ball State. The Huskies defeated the University of Central Michigan on Saturday by a final score of 70- 57. (Northern Star file photo)

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter

DeKALB NIU has agreed to terms on a contract extension with women’s basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen, NIU announced on Tuesday. 

Carlsen was extended through the 2024-25 season.

Carlsen expressed her sincere gratitude to the NIU community, and looks forward to her future with the Huskies. 

“NIU is home to me and my family,” Carlsen said via an NIU Athletic press release. “The community has embraced us since the first day we got here and I very much look forward to continuing to pursue excellence with the Huskies.”  

Carlsen led NIU to the MAC tournament quarterfinals five times in eight seasons. The Huskies played in the Women’s Basketball Invitational for the second time under Carlsen at the end of this season. 

NIU has produced 12 All-MAC performers since Carslen assumed head coaching duties in 2015. In 2022, the Huskies had three All-MAC selections for the first time in program history: A’jah Davis, Janae Poisson and Chelby Koker. 

In addition to success on the court, Carlsen’s teams have been nationally recognized for academic excellence. 2022 marked the fourth consecutive season the Huskies made the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Academic Top 25 Honor Roll.