Melissa Valenzuela Flag Football hiring announcement

Illinois Wesleyan Selects Melissa Valenzuela to Lead Flag Football Program

Flag football to officially begin competition in spring of 2026

12/23/2024 10:00:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director Mike Wagner announced the hiring of Melissa Valenzuela as IWU's inaugural flag football coach Monday, Dec. 23. Valenzuela makes the move from Portland, Ore. and will begin the work of building Illinois Wesleyan's 27th sport after the new year.

"Early in the process it became clear that Melissa was the right person to lead our flag football program," Wagner said. "She has incredible experience within the sport as well as an undeniable passion for flag football. I am excited to work alongside her as she builds Titan flag football into a championship contender on the field, in the classroom, and within our community."

Valenzuela comes to IWU with more than 10 years of experience in both flag and tackle football. Most recently, Valenzuela coached girls flag football at Riverdale High School in Portland and was the wide receiver and defensive backs coach with the Oregon Ravens of the Women's National Football Conference.

Valenzuela has coached women's semi-contact, co-ed adult, and youth flag football teams in the Pacific Northwest since 2011. She was a co-creator of the first 5-on-5 women's flag football league in Seattle, Wash., and spearheaded the creation of the sport in Portland.

Additionally, Valenzuela served as a Flag Football Ambassador with the Northwest Flag Football Alliance and Women's Flag Football Network from 2015 to 2019.

"I'm thrilled to join IWU as the head coach for women's flag football," said Valenzuela. "For many years, I've affirmed that women can play football hard and flag football at the college level gives them that opportunity. With IWU's commitment, we will build an enthusiastic and competitive flag football program. I'm excited for the student-athletes at IWU and look forward to the maturation of the sport in the Bloomington-Normal community. I'm grateful to the athletics team and IWU administration for giving me this opportunity. TGOE!"

A student of the game, Valenzuela got her start in flag football as a player, co-captain, and team manager of the Cascadia Women's Contact Flag Football Team and various co-ed teams since 2011. She was a part of back-to-back Silver Champion teams for the NW Flag Football Championships.

Valenzuela graduated from St. Edward's University in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in English writing and rhetoric before receiving her master's degree in recreation administration from Aurora University in 2003. Additionally, Valenzuela served eight years in the United States Army Reserves as a medical specialist.

Backed by the NFL, Women's Flag Football is one of the fastest-growing sports across the country with at least 13 states sanctioning it as a high school sport. The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced the addition of girl's flag football in February of 2024 and held the inaugural state finals in October. More than 100 Illinois high school teams compete in girls flag football, with more than 40 schools set to begin participating in 2026.

In addition to its growth at the high school level, there are now more than 25 universities around the country that sponsor women's flag football. Illinois Wesleyan was the third Division III institution in the state of Illinois to add the sport, with Aurora University and Illinois College following suit. The sport will be included in the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 2028 as its popularity expands globally.

Titan flag football will compete at Neis Field. The competition season will span from February to May. Women's collegiate flag football is a 7-on-7 competition that is played on a football field that is 40 yards in width by 80 yards in length. Each team moves offensively by running or passing a football, while the defense tries to "tackle" by pulling flags on the belt of the ball carrier.

Current and prospective students interested in learning more about Illinois Wesleyan flag football are encouraged to fill out the student interest form below.

Prospective Student Interested Form

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