SALEM, Va. – Elizabeth Faust was announced Friday as the inaugural women's flag football coach at Roanoke College, and is set to begin her duties on October 5.
Women's flag football is starting at Roanoke College as a varsity sport in the spring of 2028.

"I am incredibly excited and honored to join the Roanoke College team," said Faust. "Thank you to President Frank Shushok, Athletics Director Curtis Campbell, and everyone involved in bringing women's flag football to Roanoke College. This is a tremendous chance to build something special and create more opportunities for women to play this great game at the college level. I look forward to developing student-athletes on and off the field and building a program that our team, college, and community can be proud of." 

She brings a wealth of flag football experience to the Maroons after working more than 10 years for USA Football. During this time, she managed the men's and women's flag national teams and assisted in creating and managing the junior flag national team program at the U15 and U17 levels. These teams competed in international competitions at IFAF World Championships, the World Games, and the Junior International Cup.

Faust also worked with the NFL FLAG program from 2012 to 2019, assisting youth flag leagues across the country with resources and equipment, as well as hosting regional and national tournaments.

Faust most recently served as the Associate Director of Donor Experience for the Virginia Athletics Foundation at the University of Virginia starting in Sept. 2023.

"I am thrilled to welcome Elizabeth as the first head coach of our women's flag football program," said Roanoke College Director of Athletics, Curtis Campbell. "From the beginning of this process, we looked for a coach who could not only build a competitive program but also create a positive, inclusive experience for our student-athletes. Elizabeth brings tremendous energy, leadership, and a clear vision for the program's future. I am confident that she will lay an outstanding foundation for women's flag football at Roanoke College and make a lasting impact on our student-athletes and our department. This is an exciting time for the sport, and we are fortunate to have Elizabeth leading the way as we launch this new chapter."  

Faust earned both her undergraduate (exercise science) and graduate (sport management) degrees from the University of Tennessee.

Women's flag football is an NCAA Emerging Sport and is positioned to pursue NCAA championship status, with the potential to host its inaugural championship as early as spring 2028. The sport is also set to make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, further highlighting its rapid growth and increasing global recognition.

The Maroon flag football team will be a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), which could be the league's next full varsity sport, with hopes of an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.

Women's collegiate flag football, which spans from February to May, is a 7-on-7 competition played in four 12-minute quarters on a football field 40 yards wide by 80 yards long. Each team moves offensively by running or passing a football, while the defense tries to "tackle" by pulling flags on the ball carrier's belt.