A mockup of new jerseys for the UWO Women's Flag Football team. October 20, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Women’s flag football is skyrocketing in popularity, and starting in spring, it will come to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus.
“The excitement goes through the roof. If you ask anyone who knows me, I’m very passionate about coaching,” said new women’s flag football coach Deante Jefferson. “And it was interesting, one of my buddies asked, ‘Would you coach women’s flag football over boys football?’ and I said, ‘Yes, 100%.’”
Jefferson coached the girls’ flag football team at Appleton North High School, including when the team participated in the Green Bay Packers’ first girls flag football camps.
As the sport grows in popularity across Northeast Wisconsin, Jefferson said he’s proud to be a part of it.
“Anytime you get to be a part of something greater than yourself, you feel happy, you feel good about that,” he said. “There’s going to be other coaches behind me that are going to continue this growth.”
UW-Oshkosh Chancellor Manohar Singh said the addition of girls flag football is just a taste of what the university is planning, with hopes of drawing in students with more varied interests to boost enrollment.
“That is always going to be a factor in our decision, and I do believe that building athletics has been a proven successful strategy at many institutions, including my previous institution,” Singh explained. “Enrollments are not just good for the part of financials — they bring the richness of life, the learning, the knowledge, the bonding, the engagement.”
University officials say startup costs for flag football are incredibly affordable, but they wouldn’t share exact numbers.
29 students have already expressed interest in the program. Because UW-Oshkosh is in the recruiting phase, there’s no word yet on how many players will be on the team.
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