SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Capitalizing on tremendous national momentum, Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brian Agler ’80 has announced that Wittenberg University will offer women’s flag football as a new intercollegiate athletics team.

The Tigers are forming a team immediately, with plans to begin competition in the spring 2026 season. Women’s flag football has been identified by the NCAA as an “Emerging Sport for Women,” with more than 60 colleges already sponsoring teams and many more considering it, either as intercollegiate programs or club teams.

With significant support from the National Football League (NFL), women’s flag football has seen a 50% jump in participation nationwide at the high school level in the last three years.

“Flag Football will soon become the fastest-growing sport for women at the high school and collegiate levels in the country,” Agler said. “We have studied its progression, and we have participated in NFL functions and clinics. We are excited to initiate our flag football program, and we are very appreciative of the alumni who have stepped forward to help fund the program to ensure a positive start.”

Wittenberg already has named a coach for the new program. Chris Johnson, an assistant coach for the Tiger football team, has been hired as the first head coach of Wittenberg Women’s Flag Football, with recruiting at the top of his to-do list.

Johnson joined Wittenberg’s football coaching staff in 2024, where he currently serves as an assistant defensive backs coach. A native of West Chester, Ohio, Johnson played college football at the University of Findlay and Capital University, from which he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2024.

On July 17, 2025, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced that it plans to sanction a state championship event in girls flag football in spring 2026, just five years after the creation of the first Girls High School Flag Football division in the state. What started as 20 Ohio schools sponsoring girls flag football teams has grown to more than 80 during that time.

To top it all off, women’s flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028.

“We are excited to have Chris Johnson in place as our first head coach for women’s flag football,” Agler said. “Chris is in his second year at Wittenberg, and we have been impressed with his pro-activeness to help us initiate the program. We are beginning the recruiting process for future student athletes immediately, and he will operate under the umbrella of and with the support of our tradition-rich, highly successful football program.”

In addition to recruiting new students to Wittenberg, Johnson said that he is going to set up campus events and meetings to attract interest among students who are already enrolled at the University. The first of those events will take place early in the fall semester.