Sippel Announces Retirement After 37 Seasons With Huskers

Nebraska softball associate head coach and pitching coach Lori Sippel announced her retirement on Tuesday. Sippel played four seasons at Nebraska from 1985 to 1988 before serving on the coaching staff for 37 seasons from 1990 to 2026, including the final 23 seasons as associate head coach.

 

In her 41 total seasons with the program as a player and coach, Sippel helped the Huskers to 1,449 wins, 18 conference titles, 26 NCAA Tournament appearances and six trips to the Women’s College World Series. Sippel is also responsible for every All-America pitching award in program history. She was a two-time All-America pitcher herself and coached six Husker pitchers to a total of eight All-America awards. Sippel was a five-time member of the NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year and was the 2002 National Assistant Coach of the Year.

 

“I am humbled to have had the privilege to be a member of this great athletic department and university for the past 41 years,” Sippel said. “I am grateful to Dr. Barbara Hibner for extending the opportunity to me and to Rhonda, who allowed me to continue on with her when she took over the program. Working alongside Rhonda in this program has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I will always be grateful for the friendships, support and memories we have made and shared over the years.

 

“To all who have touched this program, you have also touched me. Thank you for your kindness, encouragement and partnership throughout the years. I leave with a deep appreciation of the many wonderful memories and accomplishments shared with this department and most certainly the Red Team.”

 

“Lori is the epitome of everything good and true about being a Husker,” Head Coach Rhonda Revelle said. “She gave her entire playing career and coaching career to the University of Nebraska. I couldn’t love, respect, or trust her more than I do. While I feel my heart breaking with this news as I have coached every day at Nebraska alongside her, I am equally filled with gratitude for the memories made, the lives touched and the journey we have taken together for the last 34 years. I love you my dear friend. You have earned this time to thrive in your next chapter of life.” 

 

Sippel’s final season with the program in 2026 may have been her best. She helped Jordy Frahm and Alexis Jensen to conference and national recognition. Frahm was the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. Jensen was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and an All-American. The duo helped Nebraska to the best record in program history (52-8), a fifth-place national finish and a sweep of the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. Sippel’s final season also marked the first time in program history Nebraska had two pitchers earn All-America recognition in the same season.

 

In 2026, Nebraska ranked second nationally in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk ratio, fourth in ERA, fifth in WHIP, seventh in hits allowed per seven innings and ninth in shutouts. Sippel’s pitchers posted an ERA lower than the national average in 24 of her final 32 seasons. Sippel also worked with the Husker outfielders with 16 players combining for 24 NFCA All-Region awards and three All-America accolades.

 

Sippel was also an accomplished international player and coach. She represented Team Canada as a pitcher at the 1996 Olympics and coached Team Canada in 2008. Sippel is a member of the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame and the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame. She was the first Husker to have her jersey retired, and she holds 12 different pitching records.