CLAREMONT, Calif. - Lexi Nielsen, who has spent the last three seasons an assistant coach at Division I Long Beach State, will be the new head coach of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's golf program in 2026-27, the CMS athletic department announced today.

Nielsen was most recently a part of a Long Beach State women's golf program that achieved record-setting team and individual success over the last three years. The 2024 team won the Big West Conference Championship by 23 strokes, earning the first back-to-back championships in program history and setting a program record for lowest championship score (-25).

Two different Beach players also won individual conference titles during Nielsen's three-year tenure. Madison Le set a program record in 2026 by shooting a 63 (-9) in the first round of the Big West Championship, while Jasmine Leovao won the 2024 Big West title and qualified for the NCAA Championships as an individual.

In her role at Long Beach State, Nielsen assisted with all of the daily operations for the women's golf program, including practice planning, tournament operations, recruiting, official visits, compliance, freshman admissions, travel coordination, fundraising, and social media management. The program also produced 10 Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars during her three seasons.

Prior to working at Long Beach State, Nielsen served as an assistant coach of both the women's and men's golf programs at Holy Names University, a Division II program in Oakland, California. She helped the women's team to a PacWest Conference title, while both teams earned postseason bids. She also solo-coached the men's team at two tournaments, helping them to one team win and four individual wins over the course of the year, while the women added one team and two individual wins.

CMS began its women's golf program in 2007 under head coach Jodie Burton, and the Athenas have grown to become a consistent Division III power, entering 2026-27 with eight straight top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Burton led the Athenas to a national title in 2018 before her retirement in 2024, and Nielsen will become just the third head coach in the program's history as she will try to build on its successful foundation.

"We had a wonderful opportunity to get to know Lexi during the search process, and we were consistently impressed by her experience, her energy, and her approach to coaching," said Erica Perkins Jasper, William B. Arce Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation and George R. Roberts Fellow. "Her coaching and teaching philosophy should be a great fit for CMS and Athenas Golf."

"I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to join CMS," Nielsen said. "CMS is a place where academic success and a winning culture are cultivated both on and off the golf course. I am grateful to Erica Jasper, Rachana Bhat, Dean of the Faculty Heather Antecol, and the entire search committee for welcoming me in. I am excited to get to work alongside you all."

Nielsen attended Sonoma State University where she played on the golf team and earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a minor in economics. She graduated cum laude, and was a WGCA All-American Scholar every year that she competed on the golf team. She went on to earn a certificate in applied sport and performance psychology at Holy Names while serving as a coach.

"It has been a privilege to work alongside Alyssa Waite over the past three seasons at Long Beach State," Nielsen said. "I also want to thank my golf mentors, Eric Frazzetta, Val Verhunce, and Josh Alpert, for their support and guidance throughout my journey. Lastly, I want to thank my former players and my family for helping shape my values as both a person and a coach. I can't wait to get started at CMS and bring new energy to Athenas Golf."