St. Joseph’s University, New York’s flag football team is making headway in the months leading up to its inaugural season on the Brooklyn campus with the hiring of Head Coach Domenico DeLisi.
“I want to set the foundation for what we do here at St. Joe’s while also inspiring athletes who are new to the sport so that they eventually share the same passion as I have,” DeLisi said.
Formally a member of the Fort Hamilton, NY High School coaching staff, DeLisi has head coaching experience in girls’ flag football.
DeLisi led the Fort Hamilton girls’ team to five consecutive playoff appearances and three Brooklyn Division titles.
DeLisi has also coached tackle football and girls’ basketball at the school.
When he isn’t guiding his players to victory on the field, DeLisi is leading his students to academic excellence in the classroom. He teaches Advanced Placement Psychology at Fort Hamilton.
“I am really excited to be leading the University’s inaugural season and work with and alongside such talented and spirited individuals,” DeLisi continued.
His role as an educator and vital member of the local community were important factors when it came to selecting him for the position, according to Megan Valentine, director of athletics and recreation at the Brooklyn Campus.
“We interviewed a decent number of candidates, but we felt for our first-ever women’s flag football team, we needed someone who could teach the game just as well as they could coach it,” said Valentine. “Looking at Dom’s experience as an educator as well as someone who understands both flag and tackle football, he was the right choice.”
Flag Football’s Growth
Already popular at the high school level in New York, Valentine recognized the impact that flag football could have on the student experience at St. Joseph’s.
In May 2024, SJNY hosted a women’s flag football clinic, and more than 30 players attended, making interest in an official team evident. By that fall, the University announced its women’s flag football program, with its inaugural season set to take place in the spring of 2025.
As the first-ever women’s flag football program in the Skyline Conference, the University wants to highlight the sport’s rising popularity, both in the collegiate world and beyond.
“To me, athletics help create a well-rounded, holistic educational experience,” said Valentine. By giving young women an opportunity to play football beyond high school, SJNY is “at the front of the line” in this fast-growing sport.
Thanks to efforts by the NFL, RCX Sports and the NCAA, flag football is rapidly being brought to more schools and recreational leagues across the country. The sport is even set to make its official debut on the world stage at the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, CA.
With the support of several high-profile organizations, the popularity of women’s flag football only continues to rise across the country.
