Aurora University and the Spartan Athletic Department announced the addition of women’s flag football as the 25th varsity sport in spring 2026. A national search for the program’s inaugural head coach will begin immediately.
“We are thrilled to build on Aurora University’s tradition of supporting women’s sports with the addition of women’s flag football,” said Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills, president of Aurora University. “This expansion underscores our commitment to creating new opportunities for students while engaging and valuing diverse talents. I am confident this team will play a key role in shaping a bright future for both our students and the Spartan Athletics program.”
With a backing of the NFL and locally by the Chicago Bears, women’s flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports across the country. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced the addition of girls flag football in February 2024 and held their inaugural state championship on October 19. More than 125 Illinois high school teams compete in girls flag football, with nearly 100 more expected to join in participating in the coming years.
“We are excited to expand our athletic offerings to include women’s flag football and have a footprint in a quickly expanding sport nationwide,” Vice President for Athletics Jim Hamad said. “It is one of the fastest growing high school sports in the state of Illinois and has increased in participation and popularity throughout the country. AU and the Athletic Department are committed to building programs that compete for championships, and being an early sponsor of women’s flag football adds to our goals for success.”
The NCAA and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) are closely monitoring the emergence of women’s flag football as the sport gains momentum. In addition to its growth at the high school level, universities around the country have added women’s flag football sponsorship. AU is the fourth Division III institution in the state of Illinois to add the sport, joining Rockford University and Benedictine University from the NACC and Illinois Wesleyan University. The sport will be included in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028 as its popularity expands globally.
The competition season will span from February to May. Women’s collegiate flag football is a 7-on-7 competition that is played on a football field that is 40 yards in width by 80 yards in length. Each team moves offensively by running or passing a football, while the defense tries to “tackle” by pulling flags on the belt of the ball carrier.
Current and prospective students interested in learning more about AU Spartan women’s flag football are encouraged to fill out the prospective student-athlete interest form or contact AU Athletics (athletics@aurora.edu).
— Aurora University