MOBILE, Ala. – After 84 years, football is coming back to The Hill. Spring Hill College officials announced the launch of its Women's Flag Football program, set to compete in the 2026-2027 athletic year. This expansion brings the College's NCAA Division II athletic offerings to more than 17 sports.

"Bringing football back to The Hill in the form of women's flag football is an exciting milestone for Spring Hill College," said Joe Niland, director of athletics. "This sport gives us the opportunity to honor our football tradition while introducing a fast-growing, dynamic game that expands opportunities for female student-athletes and energizes our campus community."

Nationally, women's flag football is experiencing rapid growth at both the high school and collegiate levels, with more than 300 teams expected to compete during the 2026-2027 academic year. Momentum for the sport continues to build as student interest expands and women's flag football prepares to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games. In January 2026, the NCAA voted to add women's flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program, making a significant step toward official NCAA recognition.

"Spring Hill College is committed to being at the forefront of opportunities for our students, and adding women's flag football is a meaningful step in that direction," said Dr. Mary Van Brunt, president of Spring Hill College. "This program allows us to lead the way in expanding women's athletics while responding to the growing enthusiasm for the sport across our region."

As the only four-year institution in South Alabama and along the Gulf Coast to sponsor women's flag football, Spring Hill College is helping lead the sport's next phase of growth, expanding competitive opportunities for student athletes and positioning the region at the forefront of one of the nation's fastest-growing sports.

"There is so much talent right here along the Gulf Coast and across the region, and women's flag football gives those athletes a new opportunity to keep competing at a high level," said Jacob Galle, head coach of women's flag football at Spring Hill College. "By recruiting student-athletes and offering athletic scholarships, we're building a program that allows players to earn a degree while competing nationally, developing as athletes, and representing Spring Hill on the growing NCAA stage."

In the Southeastern region, Spring Hill will join The University of West Alabama, Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Ala., Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Fla., Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Fla. and the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla. as institutions that sponsor the sport.