By Elijah Alvarado, Sports Editor
Saint Leo University has announced the launch of a women’s flag football program, scheduled to begin in spring of 2026, joining a number of successful athletic programs offered by the university. As interest in flag football continues to grow nationwide, this new addition by the athletic department is a major step in providing opportunity for female athletes.
Eli Taliaferro has been named as head coach. Coach Taliaferro brings a load of experience and knowledge in women’s flag football, having spent years around the sport and working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Marcel Lazenby, Director of Athletics, Recreation, & Wellness, Vice President of Athletics, shares his excitement for Taliafero and speaks very highly of him.
“Coach Taliafero’s expertise and dedication make him the perfect fit to lead this new chapter in Lions Athletics,” said Lazenby.
Making the decision to join the Pride was a clear path for Taliafero as Saint Leo standards match with his very own standards and allow his history within the sport to make an impact in starting this brand-new program.
“When I saw Saint Leo, knowing Saint Leo was a Catholic university and a flag football job, it was kind of a no-brainer,” explained Taliafero. “It seems like things were unfolding the way they were supposed to.”
Having the opportunity to set the standard for this program as it is built from the ground up givesTaliafero a clear and bright future. This adds to the excitement and was a key part of his decision to pursue the head coach role. Taliafero emphasized the connection he and Lazenby have had since day one is one of the key reasons he feels the job was right for him.
“When I met with Marcel, we hit it off right away,” said Taliafero. Lazenby’s vision for the program aligns with Taliafero’s, and he expresses confidence that they can build a successful future for the university and its female student athletes.
“He has that insight to see the where the sport’s going and know we have the opportunity to puttogether a really strong program as it moves into the NCAA here in the next couple years,” said Taliafero. He also explained the culture Saint Leo possesses is the same culture he wants within his team. It’s now a matter of him maintaining that culture.
“The culture I would want to build with a flag football program is already in place at Saint Leo as a school and so now all I have to do is go in [and]build the culture, manage it, and have that championship mindset,” said Taliafero.
He remains excited about the opportunity and expresses his love for the sport and that trend is one that spreads across the entire Saint Leo athletics department.
“I get to go in and coach a sport I love, and I don’t have to worry about turning the program around, we get to build it in the image of all the other successful Saint Leo programs,” said Taliafero. The visioned culture he is looking to have in this program ties in with the Saint Leo core values and is aimed at providing a successful future for their players.
“Adhering to the values that Saint Leo has is the most important thing,” said Taliafero, “I don’t want to just coach good athletes, I want to coach good people.” He explains the lessons he hopes his players take from this program are intended to lead them to success not only on the field, but also off the field.
“I want to know that the lessons they’re learning through the program are putting them in a better place when they leave and they go off into the world post-college,” said Taliafero.
Taliafero expresses appreciation for the amount of support he and his staff have received from the university and the surrounding community. They plan to show appreciation by giving back to the community, like hosting camps and free clinics for various age groups.
As the program moves forward and prepares for a highly competitive and exciting open season and future, Taliafero gives a preview of what the Saint Leo fans can expect.
“They can expect [a]high level of competitiveness and players with a lot of heart,” said Taliafero. “We’ll be one that goes out there, and we’ll compete well with anyone we lineup against.”
