Goldey-Beacom College to Launch Women's Flag Football as 15th Varsity Sport; Griffiths Named Inaugural Head Coach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilmington, DE (10/16/2025) — Goldey-Beacom College (GBC) proudly announces the addition of Women's Flag Football as its 15th intercollegiate sport, set to debut in the 2026-27 academic year. The Lightning also named Tim Griffiths as the program's first head coach, marking an exciting new chapter in the College's athletic and academic legacy.
"We are incredibly excited to be getting in on the ground floor of flag football as an NCAA sport," said Director of Athletics Jeremy Benoit. "The sport has grown tremendously at the high school level thanks to the NFL's investment in expanding opportunities nationwide. With our proximity to the Philadelphia Eagles, we see the potential for unique experiences for our student-athletes. Tim Griffiths is exactly the right leader to build this program from the ground up."
Flag football was officially recognized by the NCAA in February 2025 as part of its Emerging Sports for Women program, which fosters opportunities for female athletes and expands competitive options for colleges and universities. More than 65 NCAA schools already sponsor the sport at the club or varsity level, and flag football is slated to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Griffiths, a seasoned educator and coach, has served for four years as GBC's Academic Interventionist Coach, mentoring student-athletes and elevating the department's academic profile. A former Division II football player at Mansfield University and a captain of the U.S. National Rugby Team, Griffiths also brings extensive experience as a program-starter in public education.
"I am honored to lead Goldey-Beacom's first women's flag football team," said Griffiths. "Flag football is the ultimate team sport, teaching leadership, sportsmanship, and self-confidence. Our Bolts will be a force to be reckoned with-not just on the field, but in every arena of life."
Goldey-Beacom's expansion into flag football follows a period of sustained success for Lightning Athletics. In 2024-25, the department celebrated record academic achievements, including 57 student-athletes named to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference All-Academic Team and a 91-percent NCAA Academic Success Rate.
The College joins other Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference members in adding flag football, paving the way for future league competition and a CACC championship by 2027.
About Goldey-Beacom College
Founded in 1886, Goldey-Beacom College has approximately 1,300 students enrolled from 29 states and 65 nations. The College offers 48 degree options in its graduate and undergraduate programs with majors in psychology, economics, criminal justice, communication & media, human services, English, and all areas of business, including accounting, business administration, entrepreneurship and finance.
The College is committed to connecting its graduates with careers in their respective fields. For over a decade, the College has long boasted a more than 90% positive outcome rate for graduates. Goldey-Beacom College is in Pike Creek Valley, a suburb of Wilmington, Delaware. The College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
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