BEREA, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University President Lee Fisher and Director of Athletics and Recreation Steve Thompson have announced that women's flag football will become the University's newest varsity sport, launching competition in spring 2027. BW will soon initiate a national search for a full-time head coach to recruit the program's inaugural roster, beginning in the new year.

The addition marks several firsts for the institution and the region: Baldwin Wallace will become the first varsity women's flag football program in the Ohio Athletic Conference and the first in the Greater Cleveland/Northeast Ohio region. The sport will serve as BW's 29th varsity team and 15th women's athletics program.

A Strategic Addition to BW Athletics
The launch of women's flag football represents a strategic expansion in an area with proven student demand and strong enrollment potential. Market analysis confirms that emerging women's sports—particularly flag football—can produce strong recruitment pipelines at comparatively low start-up and operating costs, while expanding opportunities for student-athletes.

This strategic investment directly aligns with BW's institutional plan to grow programs that generate new student interest, expand geographic reach, and support long-term financial health. President Lee Fisher said, "This is an exciting addition to our Yellow Jacket family. Women's flag football offers future students another reason to consider BW and gives current students a new opportunity to compete and grow."

Meeting Students Where Their Passions Are Growing
"Adding women's flag football as a varsity sport reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes and meeting them where their passions lie," said Thompson. "This is an exciting moment for Baldwin Wallace, and we're proud to help lead the growth of one of the fastest-emerging sports in the country."

Interest in women's flag football continues to accelerate nationwide at both the high school and collegiate levels. More than 230 colleges across the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA now sponsor women's flag football at either the varsity or club level. In Ohio, participation has grown rapidly, 121 high school teams now compete statewide, a 102% increase from last year alone.

National participation trends also indicate that women's flag football attracts significant interest from first-generation, underrepresented, and out-of-state students, key demographics in BW's enrollment strategy. Early-adopter institutions across the country have reported meaningful increases in inquiries, campus visits, and committed student-athletes during their first two recruitment cycles, underscoring the sport's strong return on investment in today's competitive higher-education landscape.

Learn More or Express Interest
Prospective student-athletes who wish to learn more about BW Women's Flag Football or be contacted when recruiting begins can complete the interest form here: https://bwyellowjackets.cc/4pMgPhI
BW's Varsity Athletics Portfolio
With the addition of women's flag football, Baldwin Wallace will sponsor 29 varsity programs, including:

• Football
• Baseball
• Basketball (Men's & Women's)
• Bowling (Men's & Women's)
• Cross Country (Men's & Women's)
• Golf (Men's & Women's)
• Lacrosse (Men's & Women's)
• Soccer (Men's & Women's)
• Softball
• Swimming and Diving (Men's & Women's)
• STUNT
• Tennis (Men's & Women's)
• Track and Field (Men's & Women's Indoor and Outdoor)
• Volleyball (Men's & Women's)
• Wrestling (Men's & Women's)