Charleston Southern Names First Coach for Inaugural Flag Football Program

Angela Villarreal-Ortiz to lead new women's varsity sport in the Big South Conference

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:30pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the dynamic action of a women's flag football game, conveying the sport's rising popularity at the collegiate level.A cubist interpretation of the energy and movement of a women's flag football match, reflecting the sport's growing collegiate presence.Charleston Today

Charleston Southern University has hired Angela Villarreal-Ortiz as the first head coach of its new women's flag football program. Villarreal-Ortiz is a three-time participant in the USA Flag Women's National Team Trials and brings experience as a player, coach, and strength and conditioning professional. CSU is the first school in the Big South Conference to add women's flag football as a varsity sport, which will begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year.

Why it matters

The addition of women's flag football as a varsity sport at the NCAA Division I level represents an emerging trend, with CSU being the 14th school nationally to sponsor the program. This move by the Big South Conference, the first Division I multi-sport league to do so, signals growing interest and investment in the sport at the collegiate level.

The details

Villarreal-Ortiz was selected after a nationwide search that began in January following CSU's announcement of the new program. She has played flag football for six years as a wide receiver and defensive back, and has participated in the USA Flag Women's National Team Trials for the past three years. In her coaching career, Villarreal-Ortiz has held roles in strength and conditioning, working with professional athletes and developing staff culture.

  • Charleston Southern announced the addition of women's flag football in January 2026.
  • The Big South Conference approved the sport starting in the 2027-28 academic year in March 2026.
  • Villarreal-Ortiz was hired as the first head coach on April 9, 2026.

The players

Angela Villarreal-Ortiz

The first head coach of Charleston Southern's women's flag football program. Villarreal-Ortiz is a three-time participant in the USA Flag Women's National Team Trials and has played the sport for six years as a wide receiver and defensive back.

Jeff Barber

The Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at Charleston Southern University, who welcomed Villarreal-Ortiz to the Buccaneer family as the inaugural head coach of the women's flag football program.

Saaid Mortazavi

The head coach of the U.S. women's national flag football team, who praised Villarreal-Ortiz as an exceptional choice to lead the program at Charleston Southern.

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What they’re saying

“I am incredibly honored to join the Charleston Southern University family and lead the first women's flag football program in school history. The chance to build something from the ground up is really special and I am looking forward to creating a culture built on discipline, unity and purpose. I am excited to work with our student athletes, help them grow on and off the field and build a program that competes at a high level and represents CSU the right way. Thank you to Mr. Jeff Barber for giving me this opportunity and go Bucs!”

— Angela Villarreal-Ortiz, Head Coach, Charleston Southern Women's Flag Football

“We are proud to welcome Angela to the Buccaneer family as the inaugural head coach of our women's flag football program. Angela is a great mission-fit for CSU and brings an elite background as a professional player, a three-time USA National Team camp invitee, and a potential Olympic team member for the 2028 USA Team. More importantly, she has a deep passion for developing student-athletes and growing the game of flag football at the collegiate level. We are very excited to welcome Angela and David to our community as we launch this new program and build a championship culture from day one.”

— Jeff Barber, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Charleston Southern University

“Angela is an exceptional choice to lead the program at Charleston Southern University. She brings a rare combination of passion, football intelligence and the ability to connect with and elevate athletes. I am incredibly excited to see the impact she will have, not just in building a competitive team, but in shaping a culture that players will be proud to be a part of. This is a big moment for the program, and they will have a good person leading it forward.”

— Saaid Mortazavi, Head Coach, U.S. Women's National Flag Football Team

What’s next

Charleston Southern will begin competing in women's flag football as a varsity sport in the 2027-28 academic year as part of the Big South Conference's new sponsorship of the emerging NCAA sport.

The takeaway

The hiring of Angela Villarreal-Ortiz as Charleston Southern's first women's flag football head coach represents an exciting new chapter for the university and the growing popularity of the sport at the collegiate level. Villarreal-Ortiz's elite playing experience and coaching background position her well to build a competitive program and cultivate a positive team culture from the ground up.