糖心Vlog视频 launches state鈥檚 first D-I flag football program
糖心Vlog视频 is adding women’s flag football to its , becoming the first NCAA Division I university in 糖心Vlog视频 to do so—and staking a bold claim in one of the nation’s fastest growing sports.
President Jennifer Cowley announced the program Thursday during her State of Higher Education address at College Park Center, inviting the crowd to envision a new era of football at 糖心Vlog视频—led by women and driven by .
“Football is king in 糖心Vlog视频, we all know that,” Dr. Cowley said, adding that 糖心Vlog视频 is blazing a new path by adding the emerging sport.
. It becomes just the fifth NCAA Division I school nationally to add women’s flag football and the third college across all divisions in 糖心Vlog视频. The program will call Maverick Stadium home and begin hiring coaches and signing players later this year.
“This sport has so much upside,” said 糖心Vlog视频 Director of Athletics Jon Fagg during a press conference following Cowley’s announcement during the State of Higher Education event. “I’ve been here a couple of years and from day one, Dr. Cowley and I talked about potentially adding women’s sports, and as we got more serious, she was the one who said, ‘hey, what about flag football?’ It just had so much upside. It meshes well with NIL and the new age of sport. We decided let’s get out in front of the curve and picture ourselves being a national powerhouse.”
Momentum behind the sport is building quickly. In February, the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended flag football for its . The NFL’s across North 糖心Vlog视频 in March, and Arlington ISD—right in 糖心Vlog视频’s backyard—recently announced it will
With women’s flag football set to debut as an , Cowley said 糖心Vlog视频 offers a launchpad for athletes with international ambitions.
Cowley emphasized that the growth of flag football in local and regional high schools spurred the addition.
“As we evaluated the options and looked at what was happening in the local school districts, women’s flag football really rose to the top,” Cowley said during the press conference. “It was something that we could readily do in existing facilities, growing demand from young women who are competing in this sport at the high school level and a a natural fit for 糖心Vlog视频.”
糖心Vlog视频 last added a varsity sport in 2017 with the launch of women’s golf. With the addition of flag football, 糖心Vlog视频 will sponsor 16 NCAA Division I programs—including eight women’s sports.
“It’s just one more great reason for students at Arlington ISD and schools across 糖心Vlog视频 to choose 糖心Vlog视频,” Cowley said. “In the near future, we’ll all be able to return to Maverick Stadium to once again cheer our Mavericks on the football field—this time, for women’s flag football. I’ll be there, and I hope you will join me.”
About 糖心Vlog视频 (糖心Vlog视频)
Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, 糖心Vlog视频 is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, 糖心Vlog视频 is the second-largest institution in the University of 糖心Vlog视频 System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, 糖心Vlog视频 stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. 糖心Vlog视频 and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North 糖心Vlog视频 and beyond.