BUFFALO, N.Y. – D'Youville University and Vice President for Athletics and Planning, Ona Halladay, have announced that women's flag football will be the 21st sponsored sport by the institution at the start of the 2025-26 academic year. D'Youville will become the first NCAA institution in Buffalo to sponsor women's flag football as a varsity collegiate sport.
"Women's flag football is a rapidly growing opportunity for women to compete in sport," Halladay said. "With the NCAA quickly moving to add flag as an emerging sport for women, it is our responsibility to ensure that young women can further that opportunity at the collegiate level while earning a critical degree which will help propel them professionally post college. D'Youville is honored to have the privilege to sponsor a sport that has rich support across the country and world. I couldn't be more thrilled for the young women that will be able to extend their athletic career here at DYU through participation in flag."
Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. At least 65 NCAA schools are sponsoring women's flag football at either the club or varsity levels this year, with more slated to join in 2026. Flag football also has been added as a sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The average roster size is around 25 players that will play 7-on-7. A contest will consist of four 12-minute quarters on a field that is 80x40 yards. The offense has four downs to cross each 20-yard line for a first down with an option to punt at third down. If unsuccessful, teams surrender possession to their opponent.
Teams score six points for a touchdown and can gain an extra one or two points for a set play from the five- or 10-yard lines. Players will wear tightly fixed flag belts with sockets and two pop flags on either side of their hips.
Along with announcing the addition of women's flag football, Halladay has named Jeff Weiss as the team's first head coach.
"Jeff has been an integral local leader for the growth of flag football for young women," said Halladay. "He has seen the sport grow over the past four years with almost 240 varsity programs being offered to high school athletes. Jeff's passion for providing young women the opportunity to play football is unmatched. He understands the value of the next level of participation at the college level and desires to be an integral part of that. His steady demeanor and positive outlook are exactly what we need to lead us in starting a flag program here at DYU. I am confident that Jeff will find great success here at D'Youville, and we are honored to have him."
Weiss comes to D'Youville from Orchard Park High School where he has served as head coach of the team since their inaugural season in 2022. There, Weiss has an overall coaching record of 24-7-1 and has guided his teams to three-straight sectional semifinal games. With great team success, Weiss has coached numerous All-WNY and All-Section VI players.
"To be presented something at a higher level with challenges that I have faced before at the high school level was something that I couldn't turn down," said Weiss on becoming the first women's flag football coach at D'Youville. "I've gone through this process before and enjoyed it. I realized how much it meant, not only to myself but to others, it's really cool to be apart of."
Weiss is also the owner of Empower Flag Football LLC where he holds flag football camps and clinics for girls ages 5 through 15. Weiss organizes teams of middle and high school girls to participate in several local flag tournaments.
"I have been at the forefront of the girls' high school flag football movement in WNY, and look to continue the growth of this sport," Weiss said. "As a teacher, I have developed interpersonal skills that allow me to get the most out of my students and athletes."
Along with coaching flag football at Orchard Park, Weiss also serves as an assistant coach on the junior varsity football team during the fall seasons.
Weiss graduated from undergrad in the fall of 2014 with a degree in mathematics education from Buffalo State University. Weiss also earned his master's degree in mathematics education in the fall of 2016.
"My goal as a coach is to maximize the potential of each of my athletes by forming meaningful relationships, instilling confidence through preparation and encouragement, and helping them to learn skills that are valuable beyond the playing field," Weiss added. "I firmly believe that on-field success is a byproduct of hard work and attention to detail off the field."
