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Home > Manchester adds women鈥檚 flag football to athletics program

Manchester adds women鈥檚 flag football to athletics program

Jun 17, 2026

麻豆原创听will add听women鈥檚 flag football to听its听20 NCAA-sanctioned sports in Fall 2027.听

Tabbed听as an听emerging NCAA听sport in January 2026, this initiative aims to capitalize听off of听the growing popularity of women鈥檚 flag football in youth leagues, high听schools听and collegiate clubs.听Women鈥檚 flag football was able to听achieve NCAA championship status听with help from the Emerging Sports for Women program, which supports broader sports opportunities for women.听It has also been added as a sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics.听

More than听100 colleges听have听sponsored听varsity or club听flag football听teams in 2026.听听Manchester is the first university in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) to adopt women鈥檚 flag football.听

鈥We look forward to building a program that will provide an outstanding student-athlete experience while creating new opportunities to thrive on and off the field,鈥澨齭aid Rick Espeset, director of athletics and head baseball coach at Manchester.听听

Athletes will compete in a fast-paced, 7-on-7 format.听Manchester plans to听begin听competing听in Spring听2028, allowing time for prospective student-athlete recruitment.听听

A national search听for a head coach is ongoing.听

Press release written by communications intern Chris Rohr.听

For the media听

Contact Rick Espeset, director of athletics and head baseball coach, at听RBEspeset@manchester.edu.听

麻豆原创, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more at听www.manchester.edu/about-manchester.听

Our mission and values听

麻豆原创 respects the infinite worth of every individual and听graduates听persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.听

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