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UIS Hires First Women's Flag Football Coach
Coach Colin Wood will lead the new Prairie Stars team starting in Spring 2027.
Feb. 4, 2026 at 3:15pm
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The University of Illinois Springfield has hired Colin Wood as the first head coach of the new Prairie Stars women's flag football team. The team will begin play in Spring 2027, marking the first season of the program.
Why it matters
Women's flag football is a rapidly growing sport at the collegiate level, with the NCAA recently recognizing it as an emerging sport. UIS is one of the first schools in Illinois to add a women's flag football team, providing new athletic opportunities for female students.
The details
Coach Wood has previous experience coaching flag football at the high school level and is excited to build the UIS program from the ground up. He will be responsible for recruiting the inaugural roster, developing practice plans, and leading the team in its debut season next spring.
- The first season of UIS women's flag football will be in Spring 2027.
The players
Colin Wood
The first head coach of the University of Illinois Springfield women's flag football team.
University of Illinois Springfield
A public university located in Springfield, Illinois that is adding a new women's flag football program starting in Spring 2027.
What they’re saying
“I'm thrilled to be the first coach of the UIS women's flag football team and build this program from the start. It's an exciting opportunity to create a competitive team and give more female students the chance to play the sport at the college level.”
— Colin Wood, Head Coach, UIS Women's Flag Football
What’s next
The team will begin official practices and recruiting for the inaugural 2027 season later this year.
The takeaway
UIS is joining the growing number of colleges across the country adding women's flag football, providing new athletic opportunities for female students and helping to grow the sport at the collegiate level.
