The university is preparing for a significant expansion of its athletics program, a move administrators say is rooted as much in financial sustainability as in competitive opportunity.
Darrell Bailey Sr., Ph.D., the university’s director of athletics and recreation, confirmed that esports and men’s tennis are officially being added to the university’s offerings and that women’s flag football is strongly under consideration.
These additions will create participation opportunities while also positioning the department for long term enrollment growth.
Additionally, esports will begin competition in fall 2026, and will be one of the department’s largest upfront investments.
On Feb. 11, the university’s athletic department named Gidd Sasser the esports official coach. He will be actively recruiting in preparation for their startup in the fall.
Bailey estimated startup costs to be between $45,000 and $50,000, including high performance computers, gaming systems and dedicated arena space; the department is seeking external sponsorships to reduce the financial burden on the institution.
“Our plan is to get some outside entities to sponsor and help, and that alleviates a lot of the financial pressure on the institution,” he said. “That’s truly the goal.”
Men’s tennis will also return after a two-year hiatus and will be coached simultaneously by Taylor Stanchin, the current women’s tennis coach.
Bailey said the department made the decision to have Stanchin run both programs to manage staffing costs.
“When you have two sports, there are some alum that’s heavier on one side,” he said. “But when they talk to a donor that has capacity, would you be willing to support both? This enables the women’s teams to be looked at as much as the men’s.”
Additionally, the university plans to add women’s flag football, which has an “80 to 90 percent” chance of happening. The program could start as early as spring 2027.
According to Bailey, a projected roster of 20 to 25 athletes would increase participation opportunities for women while contributing directly to enrollment.
“As a whole, it’s revenue generation for the campus,” Bailey said. “More so than the athletic department. There is revenue in bodies, across the board … Giving more women an opportunity to play what they love is amazing … If they love the game and know the game, why not give them the opportunity?”
The university’s consideration comes at a time when women’s flag football is experiencing unprecedented national growth. Earlier this year, the NCAA announced that flag football had been added to its “Emerging Sports for Women” program, a significant step toward the sports future recognition.
According to an ESPN report citing the Associated Press, about 40 NCAA schools sponsored women’s flag football in 2025, and the organization projects 60 more schools could be competing this spring.
“This moment reflects the growth of college sports, as schools continue to provide a record number of scholarships and opportunities across the NCAA,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in the announcement.
Additionally, the sport’s rise extends well beyond the collegiate level. According to NFL FLAG Executive Director Izell Reese, participation among girls has surged nationwide.
In a December 2024 article for NFL FLAG, Reese wrote, “The rise of girls’ flag football has been extraordinary. What began as a grassroots effort has quickly evolved into a sport capturing global attention.”
During the 2023–2024 season, 42,955 girls participated in high school flag football, a 105% increase from the previous year. In 2023, nearly 500,000 girls aged 6 to 17 played the sport nationwide. Within the past five years, the NAIA also officially sanctioned women’s flag football.
Those national and international developments strengthen the university’s case for addition. A rapidly expanding youth and high school pipeline creates sustainable recruiting opportunities, while NCAA recognition provides legitimacy and competitive structure.
Still, the addition of extra teams will require space and coaches. Turf scheduling is already competitive in the spring, and additional field maintenance or securing use of the grass field beside Schaff Residence Hall will be necessary to provide equitable facilities.
As administrators weigh costs and logistics, Bailey maintains that expansion is not just about adding teams, but it is also about positioning the university’s athletics for long term growth.
