Scranton, Pa. — Marywood University announced the addition of women's flag football as its 23rd varsity sport, Director of Athletics and Recreation Andrew Smith announced Thursday. The Pacers will begin competition as a varsity program beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. A nationwide search for the program's first-ever coach will begin immediately.
"We are excited to offer this opportunity for female student-athletes here at Marywood University. Being on the ground floor for women's flag football at the national, regional and local levels - in a conference that was at the forefront of adding the sport on a NCAA level - furthers our commitment to strengthening our connections with the community and providing opportunities to female student-athletes" said Director of Athletics and Recreation Andrew Smith.
"I am so excited to add women's flag football to our already impressive athletics lineup," said Lisa Lori, J.D., President of Marywood. "I am certain that this is the beginning of many new exciting ventures at Marywood University."
The Pacers will compete in the Atlantic East Conference. The Atlantic East became the first NCAA conference among all divisions to sponsor women's flag football during the 2023-24 season. Marywood will join fellow Atlantic East members Centenary, Immaculata, Marymount, and Neumann , as well as associate women's flag football members Eastern and Holy Family.
Marywood anticipates a roster of approximately 20-25 student-athletes who play in a 7-on-7 format. The scoring arc is like tackle football with six points for a touchdown. Extra points are based on yards to gain in a set play (one point for five yards, two for 10) rather than kicking a field goal. Players wear tightly fixed belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of their hips.
"We are excited to see the continued growth of women's flag football across the league," said Rebecca Mullen, interim commissioner of the Atlantic East Conference. "Marywood joining the league for 2026 showcases the Atlantic East Conference's commitment to the sport. We have been at the forefront of the growth at the NCAA level and will continue our work in moving the sport forward. This is an incredible opportunity for our female student athletes and the sport."
Marywood will compete as a club team during the spring of 2025.
Current and prospective Marywood students can email marywoodflag@marywood.edu to express interest in joining the program, complete our online recruiting questionnaire, and follow the Women's Flag Football Instagram page @marywoodflag for updates.
Women's Flag Football is a burgeoning sport that has exploded worldwide to more than 20 million participants in over 100 countries — including about 500,000 girls under the age of 17 in the U.S., a 63 percent increase from the number who played in 2019. In recent years, girls flag football has grown at the high school level in the Mid-Atlantic Region, thanks to investments in leagues coordinated by the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens.
As flag football continues to grow, Marywood is excited to provide those high school student-athletes the opportunity to continue with the sport at the collegiate level. The Atlantic East partnered with the National Football League and RCX Sports, along with support from the Philadelphia Eagles, to become the first conference to offer the opportunity at the college level.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) announced girls flag football as a state-sanctioned sport in September with 66 high schools set to compete in the inaugural 2025-26 season. Women's Flag Football will be an official sport at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Interested candidates for the Head Coaching position can submit a cover letter, resume, list of three professional references and a Marywood Employment Application on the Marywood Human Resources website.
ABOUT MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY
Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania at the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, Marywood University is a comprehensive, independent, private, Catholic university. Marywood offers many of the advantages that a large university provides, including more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees taught by outstanding faculty, along with 23 Division-III varsity athletics teams plus esports. Marywood is a small, safe, and close-knit community that provides students with a friendly atmosphere and a high level of personal attention. At Marywood, students discover their passion and realize their purpose.
ABOUT ATLANTIC EAST CONFERENCE
The Atlantic East Conference is a member of NCAA Division III comprising seven institutions in a four-state area - Gwynedd Mercy, Immaculata, Marywood and Neumann Universities in Pennsylvania; Centenary University in New Jersey, Marymount University in Virginia, and Pratt Institute in New York.
