Utica University announces addition of women's flag football

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Utica University announces addition of women's flag football

Kristin St. Hilaire, Stephanie Nesbitt, and Damian Boehlert hold up a Utica Pioneers jersey.

Pioneers to begin varsity competition in 2027-2028

Utica University will add women’s flag football to its varsity athletics program beginning in 2027-2028, President Stephanie Nesbitt and Director of Athletics Kristin St. Hilaire announced Wednesday.

“We are excited to welcome flag football to Utica,” President Nesbitt said. “Women’s flag football is a rapidly growing sport across the country, including right here in our backyard, and we’re proud to be part of that momentum.”

The NCAA Division III membership voted to recognize women's flag football as an Emerging Sport at the 2026 NCAA Convention. Utica is the seventh Empire 8 Conference member to introduce the sport, joining SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Elmira College, Russell Sage College and St. John Fisher University.

At the high school level, there are more than 175 varsity girls flag football teams in New York state, including many in central New York and other regions from which Utica University regularly draws students.

“As an athletics department, we’re proud to be at the forefront of institutions making a commitment to growing this emerging women’s sport,” St. Hilaire said. “Most importantly, we’re excited to expand opportunities for female student-athletes, and I’m thankful for President Nesbitt's support in making it happen.”

St. Hilaire announced that Damian Boehlert, a longtime amateur flag football coach, will be the team’s first head coach.

Women's flag football will play a non-varsity schedule in 2026–27 while the University builds toward varsity competition in 2027-28.