BLACKBURN COLLEGE NAMES STEPHANIE ARAGON AS FIRST HEAD WOMEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL COACH

CARLINVILLE, ILL. – Blackburn College has hired Stephanie Aragon as the first head coach of its new women's flag football program, set to begin competition in the 2026–2027 academic year. Women's flag football will become Blackburn's 18th varsity sport, continuing the College's commitment to expanding athletic opportunities, especially for women, and advancing the role of athletics in shaping student growth and community pride.

Aragon joins Blackburn after leading the flag football program at Loretto Academy in El Paso, Texas, where she built a foundation of player development and teamwork. She also brings direct playing experience in both flag and tackle football. As a member of the New Mexico Banitas for the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) this summer, Aragon ranked among the league's top players. She finished second in receiving yards (430), first in kickoff return yards (307), and was seventh in both total points (52) and touchdowns (8).

"Welcoming Coach Aragon is an exciting milestone for Blackburn," said Kim Camara-Harvey, Director of Athletics. "She has the rare combination of experience as both a coach and an active professional player, which will inspire our student-athletes from day one. This addition not only reflects the growth of flag football nationally but also underscores our commitment to expanding women's athletics on campus. With one of the best facilities in the region for this sport, we are confident she will build a program where student-athletes can compete, grow, and represent Blackburn with pride."

Blackburn is among the first NCAA Division III institutions in Illinois to adopt women's flag football, one of the fastest-growing collegiate sports. With support from the NCAA and NFL, and the sport set to debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, women's flag football is positioned for tremendous growth, and Blackburn is proud to be part of that movement.

Aragon expressed her excitement that Blackburn College is embracing an emerging sport exploding with possibilities. "I am excited and grateful to be given the opportunity to begin building the program. Flag Football is growing at a rapid pace, and I am looking forward to sharing my love and experience as a coach and professional player with the student-athletes. My goal as their leader is to not only enhance their experience here at Blackburn College, but to provide lifelong skills that they can take with them when they graduate."

The College's newly opened Blackburn Athletic Center provides an ideal home for the program and future student-athletes. With momentum building across the nation and interest rising among high school athletes, Blackburn is poised to lead within the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and beyond.