The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has taken a major step towards promoting women's flag football by hiring Duane Tolson as the head coach of its new women's flag football program.
Duane Tolson, a 2000 graduate of UMES, has been appointed to lead the women's flag football team, which is set to start during the 2026-27 school year. Tolson comes to UMES after serving as the head girls flag football coach at KIPP Legacy High School in Washington, D.C.
Tara A. Owens, Vice President of Athletics at UMES, expressed her enthusiasm for Tolson's appointment. "Coach Tolson has shown the ability to develop and build competitive teams while possessing a great knowledge of the game," she said in a press release. Owens also stated that UMES aims to contribute to the development of women's flag football at the collegiate level.
Duane Tolson's coaching experience spans various teams, including the Alter Ego's flag football teams, Young Guns Coed Flag Football Team, Sharks Women's Flag Football Team, and Capitol Punishment Women's Flag Football Team. His recent team at KIPP Legacy High School achieved a 10-1-1 record and made a postseason championship game appearance during his final season.
Tolson is excited about the opportunity to lead the UMES women's flag football program. "It is an exciting time at UMES," he said. "I want to thank the University leadership team for officially bringing women's flag football to UMES and for choosing me to lead the program."
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore's new women's flag football program will be competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). The MEAC announced its sponsorship of women's flag football earlier this year, paving the way for UMES to launch its new program.
The UMES women's flag football team will be built on the principles of sportsmanship, teamwork, and academic excellence. The team will strive to represent the University of Maryland Eastern Shore positively on and off the field.
The MEAC's decision to sponsor women's flag football marks a significant step towards promoting the sport at the collegiate level. As the University of Maryland Eastern Shore embarks on its new women's flag football program, it will be interesting to see how the team performs in its inaugural season.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore will officially kick off its women's flag football program during the 2026-27 school year.
Source: Yahoo Sports