University of Jamestown to Add Women’s Flag Football

The University of Jamestown is creating a new opportunity for female student-athletes through the addition of women’s flag football. Full varsity competition is planned to begin in spring 2028.

The new program is part of UJ’s continued investment in the future of Jimmie Athletics as the University builds its identity as an NCAA Division II institution and member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

For UJ, that future is about more than adding sports.

“This is bigger than simply adding another sport,” said University of Jamestown Athletic Director Brian Mistro. “It’s about creating opportunities for young women and continuing to find ways to grow the University of Jamestown. If we can give more students an opportunity to compete, earn a degree, develop as leaders, and find a home at UJ, that is something worth being excited about.”

The University will spend the next academic year building the program, including hiring its first head coach, recruiting an inaugural roster of approximately 20 to 25 student-athletes, and developing competition and scheduling opportunities.

The timing also gives UJ an opportunity to establish itself in a sport that is quickly gaining momentum across the country and throughout the Upper Midwest.

Women’s flag football was added to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program in January 2026, and the NCAA is working toward establishing a National Collegiate Flag Football Championship, potentially as early as spring 2028. At the same time, participation among younger athletes continues to expand, creating a growing pipeline of women looking for opportunities to continue competing in college.

“We don’t want to simply react to where college athletics has been. We want to pay attention to where it is going,” Mistro said. “Flag football has tremendous momentum, and we believe there is an opportunity for UJ to be part of building that collegiate pathway from the beginning. It makes sense for our students, it makes sense for our region, and it makes sense for where we are going as an athletic department.”

That opportunity is especially visible in UJ’s own recruiting footprint. The Minnesota Vikings have invested in growing girls and women’s flag football throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa, helping expand opportunities at the youth and high school levels.

As more young women take up the sport, UJ wants to be among the first universities providing them a place to take the next step.

“There are young athletes in our region right now who are discovering this sport and falling in love with it,” Mistro said. “As they begin thinking about college, we want UJ to be an option for them. This is a place where they can have an outstanding athletic experience and, just as importantly, receive an education that broadens how they think, prepares them for their profession and helps them grow into people who are ready to lead and serve others.”

The addition of women’s flag football also represents another step forward for Jimmie Athletics. Now established as an NCAA Division II institution and member of the NSIC, UJ is looking ahead to new opportunities that strengthen the student experience, expand the University’s reach and build on the momentum of Jimmie Athletics.

“As we look at the future of Jimmie Athletics, we want to be intentional about where we grow,” Mistro said. “That means identifying opportunities that make sense for our students, our University, and our region. Women’s flag football does all three. It allows us to welcome a new group of student-athletes to UJ while investing early in a sport that we believe has a strong future at the collegiate level. It’s a decision that reflects our philosophy as an athletic department: People First. Jimmies Always.”

UJ expects competition to include NCAA institutions throughout the region as the collegiate landscape continues to develop, potentially through individual contests, regional jamborees and multi-team events.

Additional information about the program’s head coach search, recruiting and competition schedule will be announced as plans are finalized.

About University of Jamestown

University of Jamestown is consistently ranked as a top regional university in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1883 as Jamestown College, UJ is a private, Christian career-oriented liberal arts University that offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. At the bachelor’s level, students can pursue degrees in the arts, sciences, and nursing. The university also grants master’s and doctoral degrees in healthcare, leadership, and business. To expand access to its high-quality education, University of Jamestown launched UJ Accelerated, its online division, which delivers intensive upskilling opportunities to learners across diverse settings. For more information about academic offerings, campus life, and online programs, please visit UJ.edu.