Today Utica University announced that they will be creating a new women’s flag football team that will compete in the Empire 8 conference in the 2027-2028 school year. The team will be formed and compete in club-like events this coming school year. With six years of coaching experience, Damien Boehlert will become the coach for the new sport.
President Stephanie Nesbitt said she was expecting enthusiastic responses to the announcement, but not nearly to the degree of which she received today.
“[Utica University] is committed to make sure that we have quality athletics for all students on campus,” Nesbitt said.
Boehlert said he is glad that current and prospective students are excited to explore flag football at the collegiate level and are welcoming it with open arms.
“After the announcement was sent out today, emails from interested students kept coming in,” Boehlert said.
According to Athletic Director Kristin St. Hilaire, flag football has become a very popular sport among high school students today. By adding this sport to Utica University Athletics the university is giving prospective students the opportunity to play their favorite high school sport at the collegiate level in their hometown. Hilaire said that there have been many prospective students interested in joining a flag football team, so adding the sport gives students more opportunities in their athletic journey.
Currently there are six schools in the Empire 8 with flag football teams: SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, Hartwick College, Elmira College, Russell Sage College and St. John Fisher University. Utica University will be the sixth school to officially join in 2027.
