The upcoming spring season will mark a historic step for College of DuPage athletics as the school launches its inaugural women’s flag football program. The new team will begin competition during the 2025-26 academic year, reflecting the rapid growth of flag football across the nation while creating new opportunities for student-athletes.
The program will be led by Jenn Schulmeister, who was named the Chaparrals’ first head coach by Director of Athletics and Recreation programs Ryan A. Kaiser. Schulmeister previously coached at Addison Trail High School, where she guided the team to a 14-4 record and an Illinois High School Association sectional title during the sport’s inaugural season in 2024.
“Being named the inaugural head coach of women’s flag football at College of DuPage means the world to me,” Schulmeister said. “As a female head coach, it’s powerful to be a positive role model for my athletes and my two young daughters.”
Kaiser said the decision to add the program aligns with the college’s broader vision for athletics. In recent years, the Chaparrals have expanded their offerings to include several new sports, like men’s volleyball, women’s golf, men’s and women’s lacrosse, esports and, now, women’s flag football. “The goal is to continue building one of the nation’s leading junior college athletic departments,” he said.
“The College of DuPage has always been very supportive of my vision of what our athletic department should look like,” Kaiser said. “We want to continue our approach at being the preeminent junior college athletic department not only in Chicago or Illinois but the entire United States.”
Schulmeister said her vision for the program goes beyond wins and losses.
“My vision has been just to grow the game,” Schulmeister said. “I want to give young women opportunities to earn an education while playing the sport they love.”
She also said developing strong habits early will be important as the program begins its first season. The team hosted scrimmages during the fall to prepare for the spring schedule and build chemistry among players.
“The biggest priority was to establish a strong work ethic on and off the field while growing our players’ knowledge of the sport and individual skills,” Schulmeister said.
The Chaparrals opened their inaugural season on March 8 at the Halas Hall Invite in Lake Forest, Ill., dropping their first game to Illinois Wesleyan University, 6-22, before bouncing back with a 42-0 victory over Benedictine University later that same day. They continue their 2026 spring slate with games against Pratt Community College, Purdue University Northwest, Florida Gateway College, Benedictine University and Bryant & Stratton College through late April. The schedule offers a mix of competition to help the team grow in its first year.
The growth of women’s flag football also played a key role in COD athletics’ decision to add the program. According to the Illinois High School Association, more than 100-plus schools participated in the sport last season with thousands of games played statewide (Matt Troha, IHSA). The rapid rise has made flag football the fastest-growing sport in the U.S (Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS).
Sophomore quarterback and running back Jalene Sanchez said she joined college COD’s women’s flag football team to be part of something new.
“Since it’s the first year of the women’s flag football program, I thought it would be exciting to help start the team and be part of its history,” Sanchez said. “Everything we do this season helps set the tone for the teams that come after us,” she added.
Also helping lead the Chaparrals is sophomore wide receiver and defensive back Cailey Salerno, who shared her excitement about being on the inaugural roster.
“Being part of the first team and making history at College of DuPage is very exciting,” Salerno said. Being on the inaugural roster gives the team a chance to shape the future of the program. “To me, it means showing up and setting a high standard for the seasons to come.”
COD Athletics Director Jenn Kaiser emphasized the broader impact of adding the women’s flag football program.
“I wanted to be on the front end of this sport’s success and knew that if we offered the program, many of our high school partners would connect with us and send their athletes here,” Kaiser said. “It gives them a great opportunity to continue playing this evolving sport while earning their degree.”
Schulmeister said the starting whistle of the first game represents the work her players have already put into building the program. For the team, she said the first game is about more than just football.
“This moment represents the hard work these ladies have been putting in on and off the field,” Schulmeister said. “This moment is about them and their goals.”
