Caldwell University Adds Women’s Flag Football As Varsity Sport

CALDWELL, NJ — Caldwell University will add Women’s Flag Football as its 17th varsity level sport for the 2026-27 academic year.

Flag football is a non-contact sport that combines the strategy and excitement of traditional football. The sport is played with seven players on each side of an 80-yard field. Offensive players advance the ball through running or passing, while defensive players stop plays by pulling the ball carrier's flag.

Caldwell will become the sixth New Jersey four-year institution and only NCAA Division II school in the Garden State to sponsor Women’s Flag Football on the varsity level when it begins play in the Spring of 2027.

The Cougars join fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) members University of Bridgeport, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University and Post University in sponsoring the sport.

In April, the NCAA Division II Management Council sponsored a 2026 NCAA Convention proposal to add flag football as an Emerging Sport for Women. In a further sign of its growth, the sport has also been added to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“The addition of the fast-paced, fast-growing sport of women’s flag football represents another strong commitment to student-athletes, particularly in the New Jersey area,” Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Corino said.

“We are pleased to be joined by other CACC members and look forward to being one of the first in New Jersey to offer it as a varsity program next year,” Corino said.

HEAD COACH

Hasbrouck Heights native and North Arlington resident T.J. Kroncke has been named the program’s first head coach.

According to a statement from Caldwell University:

“Kroncke, who has also served as the defensive line coach for Caldwell University’s sprint football team since 2024, also coached flag football at Lyndhurst H.S. for the past two seasons. The 2006 graduate of Montclair State who earned Master’s degrees at the University of Texas in 2010 and American College of Education in 2021, began his coaching career at Paramus Catholic H.S. in 2010, mentoring running backs and the junior varsity team for four years. He moved on to Wood Ridge H.S., where he was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator from 2014-2018. He took over as head coach at Palisades Park/Leonia H.S. in 2018, leading the Tigers for four seasons.”

“I’m excited to take on this new chapter in Caldwell University Athletics,” Kroncke said.

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