Tag Archives: flag football

Betty Wold Johnson Foundation Provides $1 Million Grant To ECAC Launching College’s Largest Women’s Flag Football League

The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation today announced a groundbreaking $1 million grant to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) which will transform the landscape of women’s flag football. This investment, directed by Woody Johnson, will fund the creation of the largest collegiate women’s flag football league in the nation, launching in spring 2026. The initiative underscores the Johnson Family’s and New York Jets unwavering commitment to expanding access and opportunity for women in the sport.

“Empowering young women through football has always been central to our mission,” said Woody Johnson, Chairman of the New York Jets. “Partnering with the ECAC to launch this league creates a clear pathway for student-athletes to compete, grow, and lead—on the field and beyond.”

Mr. Johnson continued, “The Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League builds on the success of our high school girls’ flag program, which opened doors for thousands of athletes across the region. Now, we’re taking the next step: collegiate play, Olympic dreams, and a future professional league.”

Gameplay will feature the 7-on-7 format of flag football. The season will kickoff with a Media Day at MetLife Stadium in February, followed by a USA Football Talent ID Camp the following day. Regular season games will be played February through April on campus sites, culminating in the championship game at MetLife Stadium1 during the first weekend in May.

“The launch of the Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League represents a significant milestone for women’s sports,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations. “By establishing the largest collegiate women’s flag football league, we are collectively building a future where young women can dream bigger and continue playing the sport they love in a competitive setting. Woody Johnson, the Johnson Family, and the New York Jets have been pioneers in this area, and we are proud to partner with them and the ECAC to empower the next generation of flag football athletes.”

“The ECAC is thrilled to be partnering with the New York Jets and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation to provide a premium intercollegiate flag football league for hundreds of young women athletes interested in pursuing their athletics dreams,” said Dan Coonan, ECAC Commissioner. “We couldn’t be happier to be selected for this partnership. With 88 years of experience sponsoring first-rate intercollegiate athletic competition, we believe we are uniquely suited to bring this bold initiative to life. Our sincere thanks to Woody Johnson, the Jets, and the Betty Wold Johnson Foundation for their transformative vision and generous commitment to advancing this emerging sport. We can’t wait to get started.”

As part of the Jets and BWJF commitment, each school will receive a grant to offset costs associated with fielding a flag football team. The following schools have committed to playing in the Jets ECAC Women’s Flag Football League:

Allegheny College, Meadville, PA
Caldwell University, Caldwell, NJ
Dominican University, Orangeburg, NY
Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
Fairleigh Dickinson, Teaneck, NJ
Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH
Kean University, Union, NJ
Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Mount St. Mary’s University. Emmitsburg, MD
Union College, Schenectady, NY
Penn State Schuylkill, Schuylkill Haven, PA
Sweet Briar College*, Sweet Briar, VA

To watch the announcement video and download graphics please click here.

What They are Saying About the Jets & ECAC Women’s Flag Football League:

Callie Brownson, New York Jets Flag Football Advisor: “This league is more than just games—it’s about creating opportunities and building a future for women in football,” said Callie Brownson, Jets Flag Football Advisor. “From high school programs to the collegiate level, we’re opening doors that didn’t exist before. The Betty Wold Johnson Foundation’s support ensures that young women can compete at the highest level, develop as leaders, and see a clear pathway to their dreams.”

Jesse Linder, New York Jets Vice President Community Relations: “It is amazing to see the evolution of girls flag football from 2011 to today,” said Jets Vice President of Community Relations. “The New York Jets are proud to have played a role in this growth and can’t wait to see where it goes from here. From high school sanctioning to elite club play to colligate flag football a pathway to the Olympics and professional flag football is being forged.”

Amanda Ruller, Eastern University Head Flag Football Coach: “The investment of the Johnson family, Betty Wold Johnson Foundation and the New York Jets means they’re putting real money, resources, influence and visibility into growing opportunities for girls and young women in flag football,” said Amanda Ruller, head flag football coach at Eastern University. “There’s so much visibility that the Jets are providing for the sport that we love and the community loves, and people love watching it.”

Quincy Williams, New York Jets Linebacker: “Launching the largest collegiate women’s flag football league is a game-changing moment that will create opportunities that inspire and elevate the game. The programs the Jets have launched in the UK and Ireland have shown how much passion and talent exists for this sport worldwide. Now women will have the chance to experience what college football gave so many of us—competition, community, and growth.”

Sierra Wishnefsky, Penn State Schuylkill Athlete: “I couldn’t imagine being a little girl and seeing, ‘they’re playing in a league sponsored by the New York Jets, an NFL team,’ just having the name there — this conference is going to open so many doors.”

Caldwell University Adds Women’s Flag Football For 2026-27 Academic Year, Names Kroncke Head Coach

Caldwell University will add Women’s Flag Football as its 17th varsity level sport, for the 2026-27 academic year, it was announced today by Mark A. Corino, Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics. Additionally, T.J. Kroncke has been named the program’s first head coach.

“The addition of the fast-paced, fast-growing sport of women’s flag football represents another strong commitment to student-athletes, particularly in the New Jersey area,” said Corino. “We are pleased to be joined by other CACC members and look forward to being one of the first in New Jersey to offer it as a varsity program next year.

“I simply love football,” said Caldwell University President Dr. Jeffrey Senese. “It’s going to be a great pleasure to cheer on our men in the fall and women in the spring. Go Cougars!”

Kroncke, who has also served as the defensive line coach for Caldwell University’s sprint football team since 2024, also coached flag football at Lyndhurst H.S. for the past two seasons. The 2006 graduate of Montclair State who earned Master’s degrees at the University of Texas in 2010 and American College of Education in 2021, began his coaching career at Paramus Catholic H.S. in 2010, mentoring running backs and the junior varsity team for four years. He moved on to Wood Ridge H.S., where he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2014-2018. He took over as head coach at Palisades Park/Leonia H.S. in 2018, leading the Tigers for four seasons.

“I’m excited to take on this new chapter in Caldwell University Athletics,” said Kroncke.

“We have gotten to know T.J. over the past couple of seasons from his excellent work with our sprint football team,” added Corino. “With his experience as head and assistant coach in New Jersey and familiarity with Caldwell University, he is the ideal person to build the new Women’s Flag Football program here from the ground up.”

Caldwell will become the sixth New Jersey four-year institution and only NCAA Division II school in the Garden State to sponsor Women’s Flag Football on the varsity level when it begins play in the Spring of 2027. The Cougars join fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) members University of Bridgeport, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University and Post University in sponsoring the sport.

“The emergence of women’s flag football in the CACC mirrors its rapid growth nationally,” said CACC Commissioner Dan Mara in an earlier statement. “With seven of our members now committed to sponsor the sport, we look forward to hosting our first CACC women’s flag football championship in 2027.”

Flag football is a non-contact sport that combines the strategy and excitement of traditional football. The sport is played with seven players on each side of an 80-yard field. Offensive players advance the ball through running or passing, while defensive players stop plays by pulling the ball carrier’s flag.

In April, the NCAA Division II Management Council sponsored a 2026 NCAA Convention proposal to add flag football as an Emerging Sport for Women. In a further sign of its growth, the sport has also been added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

At present, Caldwell’s NCAA Division II sports competing in the CACC include men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, women’s bowling, softball and baseball. Sprint Football competes in the Collegiate Sprint Football League and Acrobatics & Tumbling competes in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association. Full information about Caldwell Athletics is available at www.caldwellathletics.com.