Eastern Connecticut State University Launching Women's Flag Football Program

WILLIMANTIC, CT — Eastern Connecticut State University is launching a varsity women's flag football program this academic year, becoming the first Division III school in New England to field a varsity team in the rapidly growing sport.

The Warriors will play their inaugural season on a newly completed artificial turf field at the Mansfield Athletic Outdoor Complex.

The 80-yard, 79,550-square-foot synthetic field was completed in August. Its primary markings are configured for flag football, while the facility also will be used by Eastern's men's and women's club rugby teams.

The complex includes a new scoreboard and bleachers and features the Warriors' new athletics insignia.

Women's flag football was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in 2026. More than 100 colleges and universities are expected to field varsity teams during the 2026-27 academic year.

Eastern is the only New England Division III school with a varsity women's flag football program and the first in the Little East Conference. It is one of three Connecticut schools with a varsity women's flag football team. Post University and the University of Bridgeport, both Division II schools, also have programs.

"Our student-athletes deserve the very best, and this investment reflects our commitment to providing them with the facilities, resources and opportunities to succeed," Eastern President Karim Ismaili said.

"Our inaugural varsity flag football team is a group of trailblazers," Ismaili said. "They are building something new at Eastern while helping shape the future of this emerging sport."

The team is coached by Andy Crane, a former Arena League football player and member of the New York Jets front office.

"This new field shows our commitment to women's flag football as we help to set the bar for the sport," Crane said.

The inaugural roster includes players from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, along with transfers from South Carolina and the Midwest. Most of the players are first-year students, while several have experience playing high school and travel flag football.

Some players arrive at Eastern with state championships and player-of-the-year honors on their resumes.

"Even though we're a very young team, we'll be a very dangerous team in year one," Crane said.

Among the team's upperclassmen is Mariah Hill, a West Hartford student majoring in criminology.

"There are not many opportunities to get a shot to do something like this," Hill said. "It's a new sport, it's growing fast, and it's important to me. As a senior, I feel lucky to be here and be a part of this, and I am excited for the season to start."

Women's flag football is Eastern's 21st varsity sport and its 12th women's varsity program. The university added women's golf last fall.

"The addition of women's flag football and the opportunity to begin a new tradition on this new home field reflects the progressive and positive energy across Eastern," Athletic Director Jason Mlodzianowski said.

The Warriors are scheduled to begin competition in the spring.