Story by NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska Rifle Head Coach Richard Clark announced the hiring of Kristen Derting as assistant coach for the Husker program on Thursday.
Derting will enter the coaching ranks during the 2024-25 season with the Big Red. She is a graduate of Ole Miss and competed on the Rebel rifle team for five years. During that time, she was a six-time CRCA All-American and an 11-time All-GARC (Great American Rifle Conference) team member. During her collegiate career, Derting posted career highs of 594 in the smallbore, 598 in the air rifle and 1,188 in the aggregate. “I am very excited to be joining the Nebraska rifle team as its assistant coach,” Derting said. “I look forward to growing and improving the skills of the team this season.”
In addition to competing for Ole Miss, Derting qualified for the USA National Team and has competed in five international competitions over the last two years, including the World Cup in 2023 and the Continental American Championships in 2022.“We are excited to welcome Kristen to the Nebraska rifle program,” Clark said. “Her experience as a collegiate athlete at Ole Miss and member of the USA National Team make her an excellent addition to our coaching staff. She brings a wealth of technical knowledge and leadership skills that will help push our program to the next level.”
The Salem, Ore., native was a force for the Rebels, as the team qualified for four straight NCAA Championships during her tenure. In 2023-24, Derting led the team with an air rifle average of 593.4 and competed in both the smallbore and air rifle in every match for Ole Miss. Derting earned her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Mississippi in December of 2023 and her master’s degree in hospitality administration/management from Mississippi in August of 2024.