Romeoville, Ill. - Lewis University has accepted an invitation to join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for flag football beginning next season, the league announced today (June 23).
"The addition of Women's Flag Football and our membership in the GLIAC represents an exciting milestone for Lewis Athletics" Assistant Vice President For Athletics
John Ashaolu said. "As one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, flag football is creating new opportunities for female student-athletes, and we are proud to be part of that movement. The GLIAC has demonstrated tremendous leadership in supporting the sport, and we look forward to competing at a high level while helping shape the future of collegiate flag football."
Lewis will compete alongside Davenport, Wisconsin-Parkside, Saginaw Valley State and Purdue Northwest during the inagural season of GLIAC flag football. All five teams will qualify for the postseason with the championship tournament hosted at the highest-seeded school at the end of the regular season. This is not the Flyers first time in the GLIAC as previously the men's and women's swimming programs competed in the league before moving to the Great Lakes Valley Conference ahead of the 2013-14 academic year.
"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to help continue growing the game of flag football while serving as GLIAC Conference Chair" Lewis Head Flag Football Coach and GLIAC Flag Football Conference Chair
Aaron Richardson said. "Our shared goal as conference coaches is to establish the GLIAC as the standard of flag football at the Division II level by creating a competitive and sustainable model for the sport. We are committed to providing an exceptional experience for all student-athletes—one that fosters development, passion, and opportunity for years to come."
Women's flag football received an NCAA emerging sport recommendation earlier this year and was officially announced at Lewis on October 24, 2025. Within the state, 226 Illinois high schools sponsor flag football according to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Since 2022, the IHSA has seen the sport go from just 22 teams to now 226 with girls flag football officially being sanctioned by the IHSA in 2024.
Head coach
Aaron Richardson joins the Flyers after coaching at Graceland University since 2025. This past season, Richardson led the Yellowjackets to their second consecutive KCAC Conference Tournament appearance while securing the program's first postseason victory and a trip to the semifinals. The season was highlighted by standout individual performances, as LaZaiya Kinville and Sadie Lee earned First Team All-KCAC honors, while Delaney Mondino was named to the Second Team. The team also produced five additional All-KCAC Honorable Mentions and two All-KCAC Scholar Athletes, showcasing both athletic and academic excellence. On the national stage, six Yellowjackets ranked among the top 10 across 13 individual statistical categories in the NAIA.
In 2025, Richardson led the Yellowjackets to their first-ever winning season, finishing 13–9, and secured the program's first appearance in the KCAC Conference Tournament. Individually, Shyla Barrios, Grace Jensen and Delaney Mondino earned All-KCAC Honorable Mention accolades as well.
A full schedule announcement for the Flyers inaugural season will be announced later this year.
For the latest news and updates on Lewis athletics, visit LewisFlyers.com and follow the Flyers on social media at @golewisflyers on Instagram and @LewisFlyers on X.
