Olivet Nazarene University is adding two new athletic programs — Women’s Flag Football as a varsity intercollegiate sport and Pickleball as a club sport — with both anticipated to begin competition in 2026-2027.
The additions are the latest sign of growth for Tiger Athletics, which currently fields 21 varsity intercollegiate teams competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Olivet Nazarene University is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), while swim and dive compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).
Leading the Way in Women’s Flag Football
With this announcement, Olivet joins a growing wave of universities investing in women’s flag football — and the Tigers are getting in early.
Women’s collegiate flag football has emerged as one of the most significant stories in college sports. The NAIA launched the sport in partnership with the NFL in 2021, and its growth has been substantial. By the 2025-26 season, 35 programs were competing in NAIA Women’s Flag Football alone — enough for the NAIA’s National Administrative Council to elevate it to invitational status, putting it on a clear trajectory toward becoming a full championship sport. With institutions across the NAIA, NCAA and NJCAA now adding programs, the sport’s momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
Olivet’s decision to launch a collegiate women’s flag football program positions the university as an early adopter in one of the most exciting emerging women’s sports in the country. For a University that has long championed opportunities for female student-athletes — from conference titles in track and field and volleyball to nationally competitive programs in swimming and diving, softball and soccer — the addition is a natural next step.
“We’ve been watching this sport grow for a few years now, and it was clear to us that the time was right,” said Justin Glenn, Olivet Nazarene University Athletic Director. “There are talented young women all over the country looking for a chance to compete in flag football at the college level, and we want them to know Olivet is ready. We’re excited to build something from the ground up here.”
Olivet’s program will compete under the NAIA, where the University has built a proud tradition of success. A national search for the program’s inaugural head coach will begin immediately.
Glenn added, “We didn’t want to wait on this one. We believe in the sport, we believe in the young women who are going to play it, and frankly, Olivet is the kind of place where a new program can really take off — on the field and in the lives of our student-athletes.”
Pickleball Arrives as a Club Sport
Olivet is also launching a club pickleball team, joining a growing number of college pickleball programs nationwide.
It’s no secret that pickleball has taken off. Widely recognized as the fastest-growing sport in America, the growth of pickleball has reached every level — from local recreation centers to collegiate pickleball leagues and tournaments. More students are arriving on campus with competitive pickleball experience than ever before, and Olivet responded with this new opportunity for them.
Randy Haws, who serves as head coach of Olivet’s men’s and women’s tennis programs, has been named head coach of the new program. Haws brings deep experience in racket sports and a track record of developing competitive athletes, making him a natural fit to build the program from scratch.
As a Christian university, Olivet has always seen athletics as more than competition. The new pickleball program is no exception — another way for students to grow, connect and contribute as part of the faith-based college athletics community at Olivet.
More Opportunities for Future Tigers
These programs continue a pattern of growth and investment at Olivet. In recent years, the University has added new facilities, celebrated conference championships across multiple sports and earned national recognition for its commitment to athletic and academic excellence. Olivet’s athletics program is home to more than 600 student-athletes — a number that will only grow with these additions.
“To prospective students, I would say that Olivet is a place that’s moving forward and investing in them,” Glenn said. “That matters to us. Whether it’s flag football, pickleball, or any of our other programs, we want students to come here and be part of something bigger than themselves.”
Prospective student-athletes interested in Women’s Flag Football or Pickleball may complete the interest questionnaire at Olivet.edu/newsports.
For more information about Tiger Athletics, visit onutigers.com.
