LYNCHBURG, Va.- Randolph Athletics announced Thursday the addition of a new varsity sport along with a restructuring of its track and field and cross-country programs, reinforcing the department's continued commitment to growth and development.
Women's flag football will become Randolph College's 23rd varsity sport beginning in the 2027-28 academic year. The new team will compete in the 2028 spring season.
"Randolph College has always been focused on access," said Director of Athletics Tom Galbraith. "The addition of flag football adds another avenue by which young women can choose an outstanding institution for their educational pursuits while simultaneously playing a new sport and competing among the best in the nation at this level. This addition continues our focus on growth of not just the athletics department, but the College as a whole."
The rise of women's flag football as a collegiate sport has exploded over the last two years with over 100 NCAA Division III institutions either currently fielding teams or announcing intentions to expand them in the near future. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), of which Randolph is a member, currently has two teams competing in their inaugural seasons (Hollins and Virginia Wesleyan) with four more schools, including Randolph, preparing to field women's flag football by the 2028 competition season in the spring. With at least five members competing, the ODAC could add flag as a sponsored sport.
Flag football is also one of the fastest-growing female sports in the country. At its January 2026 annual meetings, the NCAA Division III membership voted to add women's flag football as an emerging sport, paving the way for access to championship status in coming years. The sport will also celebrate its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
A search for an inaugural head coach will begin immediately, allowing for a year-long recruiting cycle before competition in 2027-28.
Concurrently, in an effort to competitively grow the existing indoor, outdoor, and cross-country rosters, Randolph will restructure the coaching framework of the women's and men's track and field/cross country programs.
Ryan Davis will transition from head men's coach to director of track and field/cross country programs and recruiting coordinator. Current Women's Head Coach Todd Pettyjohn has announced his retirement effective in May, and Assistant Coach Meghan Chaffins will take over the women's program on an interim basis. A search for head coaches for both the women's and men's programs will begin immediately.
