Lawrence University names Chelsea Alt head women’s flag football coach

Lawrence University has named Chelsea Alt as the head coach of its newly established Women's Flag Football program, marking an important milestone in preparations for the team's inaugural season of competition in spring 2028.

"We are pleased to welcome Chelsea as our new head coach for the Vikings," said James Downer, Assistant Vice President of Athletics. "Chelsea brings tremendous energy, a passion for student-athlete development, and a vision for building a competitive program. We look forward to seeing what she will accomplish as she leads the Women's Flag Football team into its first season."

Alt played 12 seasons in professional women's football leagues, was a five-time all-star, and earned a National and International Championship with the New York Sharks. She has received numerous awards recognizing her leadership, service, and professional excellence, including the 2022 Honorary ESPY Award recognizing her for outstanding achievement and influence on local women's sports.

Along with her playing career, Alt brings a wealth of coaching experience to Lawrence along with professional experience in public service administration and brand management. Currently, she serves as Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Coach for Marian University's women's flag football program, where she helped build a successful first-year program that achieved a 10-4 record in its inaugural season.

Alt previously served as assistant coach at Bryant & Stratton College in Wauwatosa, where she was instrumental in the development of the school's flag football program. While serving as an assistant coach for the College Gridiron Showcase in Fort Worth, Texas, she coordinated a girls flag football event to bring greater visibility to the sport. Similarly, she planned and executed flag football camps for women of all ages and experience levels as an assistant coach for the Women's Gridiron Foundation in New York.

In the high school setting, Alt served as assistant coach for boys' varsity football for the Sun Prairie Area School District and played a pivotal role in establishing a competitive girls' flag football team from the ground up. And at Stoughton Area School District, she served as head junior varsity soccer coach and assistant varsity football coach.

"As an Appleton native, stepping into the role of head women's flag football coach at Lawrence University is more than an honor- it is a homecoming with purpose," said newly appointed head coach Chelsea Alt. "Growing up in Appleton, I could only dream of the day where women would be able to coexist and compete in the game of football, especially at the collegiate level. Not only does this opportunity allow me to live out my dreams, it gives me a platform to help young women build their own, transform themselves as individuals, and show the world what we can accomplish, both on and off the football field."

Alt earned her Bachelor of Arts in Public Service degree with a Management of Criminal Justice concentration from Concordia University Wisconsin.

In addition to her athletic leadership experience, Alt served as a forensic care coordinator for Lutheran Social Services, where she developed individualized care plans and supported successful community transitions for individuals under the supervision of the Department of Health Services.

She previously served as an assistant program manager for the Department of Defense in West Point, NY, where she managed several aquatic/fitness locations at the U.S. Military Academy, led staff trainings, such as lifeguard and CPR/first aid courses, and planned recreational and athletic events for the West Point community. Additionally, she is the owner of Ctrl Alt Delete1 Creations, LLC, where she designs marketing and communications materials for clients.

"I look forward to making a positive impact on the Lawrence University community, as well as giving back to the Appleton community," Alt said. "I give thanks to President Carter for spearheading the addition of this amazing sport and providing an opportunity for women everywhere to experience flag football as a Lawrence Viking. We're here to compete with fire, to challenge expectations, and to show that women's flag football isn't following anyone's blueprint, but instead we are creating our own."

Lawrence University announced the addition of women's flag football in April 2026 as part of its ongoing commitment to expanding athletic opportunities. Women's flag football, one of the fastest growing sports in the nation, helps create new pathways for women to compete at the collegiate level while strengthening our athletics profile and supporting institutional goals. The inaugural season will be in the Spring of 2028.