Lisa Hart

Lisa Hart served the Nebraska women's tennis program from 2021-2023 as an associate head coach. 

Prior to joining the Husker coaching staff, Hart served as the head coach at Washington State for 18 seasons from 2003 to 2021. She led the Cougars to 246 wins and NCAA Championship appearances in 2008, 2012 and 2019. Hart has also coached four players who have reached the NCAA Singles Championships.

During her time at WSU, Hart’s teams saw success in the classroom and put an emphasis on community service. In each of the last 14 seasons, the Cougars received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic team award. Hart was also a six-time winner of the Community Service Award by the United States Tennis Association and ITA for her significant contributions in developing community-based tennis programs and was named the national winner of the USTA/ITA Community Outreach Award in 2008.  

On the court, Hart’s teams have posted 12 or more victories in 13 seasons with the Cougars, including a program-record 21 victories in 2018. The following season was also successful with the team reaching the NCAA Championships for the seventh time in program history. Additionally, both a singles player and doubles team made it to the tournament for the first time since 2002.

Hart’s best season at the time came in 2012, when she led the Cougars to a 19-7 record, tying for the most wins in school history, and a second-round showing at the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship. That season included six wins over nationally ranked teams, a first-round victory over No. 36 Florida State at the NCAA Championship, and a weekend sweep over No. 26 Arizona and No. 27 Arizona State.  

Hart capped the 2012 season by being named the Pac-12 Conference Coach of the Year, the 2012 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northwest Region Coach of the Year and the 2012 United States Professional Tennis Association/Pacific Northwest Division College Coach of the Year.

During her WSU tenure, Hart has mentored four players to the NCAA Singles Championships along with one doubles team. Hart coached 39 players who received ITA All-Academic awards, two CoSIDA First Team All-District VIII recipients, seven Cissie Leary Sportsmanship and six Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award winners.

Hart was a tennis standout at Nebraska, finishing her career as one of the most successful women’s tennis players in school history. She was the 1995 Big Eight Freshman of the Year, recorded 74 career singles victories, and won the Big 12 Conference No. 2 singles title as a senior in 1998.

Her dedication and excellence on the court was matched in the classroom as Hart was a three-time academic all-conference selection, earning first-team academic All-Big 12 honors as a senior. She was selected by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as the Central Region’s Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award winner. As a senior, Hart also received the Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership Award.

A native of Sunnyside, Wash., Hart earned All-America honors as a high school sophomore. Hart earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Nebraska in 1998, and also holds a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in physical education and sports studies from Nebraska.