Lindsey Payton enters her second season as an assistant coach at Norfolk State for the 2026-27 season.
In her first season, Payton helped guide the Spartans to an 18-15 record, a fifth consecutive appearance in the MEAC Championship game, and the program’s second-ever berth in the WNIT. She also played a key role in developing MEAC Defensive Player of the Year Jasha Clinton, All-MEAC First Team selection Da’Brya Clark, and All-MEAC Second Team honorees Clinton and Anjanae Richardson.
Payton helped establish Norfolk State as one of the nation’s top defensive teams, ranking second in field goal percentage defense (33.8), third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (25.5), 10th in steals per game (12.4), 21st in blocks per game (5.0), and 23rd in turnovers forced per game (20.8).
Prior to Norfolk State, Payton spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Coppin State, where the Eagles posted a 19-15 record and earned a WNIT appearance, defeating Colgate in the first round for the program’s second postseason win.
Before Coppin State, Payton served one season as an assistant coach at Augusta University, helping the Jaguars to a 17-12 record and two All-Peach Belt Conference selections.
She also spent one season at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where the Urban Knights went 18-11 and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Payton coached two seasons at Siena Heights University, leading the Saints to a combined 50-14 record. In her second season, Siena Heights won 27 games, earned an NAIA Tournament berth, and produced two All-Americans.
She began her coaching career in 2016 as a student assistant at Arizona Christian, where the Firestorm earned a spot in the NAIA Top 25.
