By Ana Guarderas, Sports Editor
Saint Leo University Women’s Flag Football is entering its second year with a new coach and the vision of building a program that can compete at the highest level.
Steven Searles took over as head coach before the start of the team’s second year, after spending almost eight years involved in flag football in the Tampa Bay area. This was the opportunity that Searles had been looking for: a chance to bring his experience to the collegiate level.
“I’ve been around flag football for going on eight years now,” Searles said. “I was openly looking to get into the college community, saw the opportunity, applied, and was blessed enough to get this opportunity.”
Searles joined the Lions during an important chapter for Women’s Flag Football, as the sport has been growing tremendously across collegiate athletics. In January 2026, Women’s Flag Football officially became an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, creating a pathway toward becoming an NCAA championship sport.
Saint Leo introduced its Flag Football program during the 2025-2026 academic year, becoming a part of the sport’s growing presence in collegiate athletics. The team is in the process of making history and is focusing on further developing and establishing its identity in college athletics.
Building a program for the future
During the program’s inaugural season, they finished with a 7-7 record, with wins against programs like Barry University, University of Tampa, Florida International, and more. The program is still in its early stages, so having these results is motivating. Searles is focused on creating a competitive team while developing a solid foundation for its long-term success.
“We are looking to build this program and compete at the highest level,” Searles said.
As a new coach leading a developing program, one of Searles’ priorities is recruiting talented athletes who can keep helping the program grow. With Searles’ experience and connections in the Tampa Bay area, he recognizes the opportunities available locally, but he is looking outside of Florida as well to strengthen the team.
“We have plenty of talent and awesome coaches in the Tampa Bay area,” Searles said. “We do look to expand and definitely recruit outside of the Florida market.”
As the program continues to develop, recruiting and building a competitive roster will be important steps to reach the expectations Searles has for the Lions.
Building a successful program is more than bringing talented athletes together. It is also about creating a team environment where players are excited to contribute, develop, and grow together.
Military service shapes Searles’ coaching philosophy
Searles served nine years in the United States Army Reserve, including a deployment to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. His military experience has shaped his coaching philosophy, especially discipline, accountability, and teamwork.
“One of the biggest things I took away from my time in the military was the importance of camaraderie,” Searles said, “you learn to communicate, build trust, and come together as a team, regardless of your differences.”
Searles has taken these lessons into his coaching career, influencing how he approaches leadership and creates an environment for players to grow together.
For Searles, the energy and enthusiasm of the current roster have already made an impression.
“The girls’ energy is contagious,” Searles said. “They are super excited to be a part of this program, to build the foundation to grow the program into something really special that the community can be proud of.”
The opportunity to help shape a program and start it off is a unique opportunity and something both players and coaching staff can share. As Flag Football and the Saint Leo program continue to establish its presence in the sport, the current team has the chance to contribute to the foundation the program needs to keep building it.
More than a program, part of the community
For Searles, building a competitive program is not the only part of his vision. He also wants the team to become an active part of the Saint Leo community.
With Flag Football being an emerging sport and gaining recognition nationally, the Lions have the opportunity to grow and introduce more students and community members to flag football.
“We are excited that Flag Football is here in the community,” Searles said. “We are actively looking to be active members in the community.”
With a new head coach, a developing roster, and many growth opportunities within college flag football, Saint Leo is entering another important year in the program’s early history.
As Saint Leo Flag Football prepares for its second season, Searles and the Lions have the opportunity to continue building the program’s foundation. With a new coaching staff, a developing roster, and a growing sport, they are working on creating a competitive team and something for the Saint Leo community to be proud of.
