Millikin University Adding Flag Football

Millikin University (IL) announced the addition of women's flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Millikin also named Joan Catanese as the program's head coach and will begin recruiting athletes immediately.

Millikin becomes the third team from the NCAA Division III College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) to launch a flag football team. Illinois Wesleyan University and North Park University are the other two, with both set to compete for the first time during the 2025-26 academic year.

Illinois has seen 11 schools start or announce the addition of flag football. 8 schools will compete during the 2025-26 academic year: Aurora University (NCAA D-III), Benedictine University (NCAA D-III), College of DuPage (NJCAA), Illinois College (NCAA D-III), Illinois Wesleyan University (NCAA D-III), North Park University (NCAA D-III), Rockford University (NCAA D-III), and Triton College (NJCAA). Millikin will join Blackburn College (NCAA D-III) and Eureka College (NCAA D-III) as new programs for the 2026-27 academic year.

While more than 200 club and varsity flag football teams are expected to compete during the 2025-26 academic year, over 30 additional teams will begin competing in 2026-27. The growth of the sport has put flag football on the NCAA's radar, as it is expected to be added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women Program.

Flag football could achieve NCAA Championship status in 2028, according to NCAA President Charlie Baker. The addition of flag football as a championship sport would coincide with flag football making its Olympic debut during the first week of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.