ARLINGTON – With the Atlantic East Conference set to begin sponsoring women's flag football at the club level this spring, Michael Rivera has been selected as Marymount's first head women's flag football coach, announced Vice President for Athletics, Student Wellness, and Ministry Jill McCabe on Thursday.  

"We are excited to have hired a coach of Mike's caliber and experience to launch our women's flag football program," said McCabe. "His success and the network he has built with club programs across the country sets Marymount up for success. I know we are incredibly fortunate, and I look forward to watching Mike build a national championship caliber team." 

A fixture in Arlington youth sports for almost two decades, Rivera brings an incredible coaching resume in one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Since founding the nationally recognized Virginia Hurricanes girls flag football program over 15 years ago, teams coached by Rivera have consistently won local, regional, and national tournaments. 

While coaching teams in multiple age divisions at eight NFL Flag National Championship tournaments, Rivera has led teams to nine title games and won five national championships, including four years in a row from 2020-23. In 2022, Rivera was one of five coaches to be nominated for NFL Flag Football Coach of the Year. 

"I look forward to starting and building Marymount's women's flag football program and participating in the Atlantic East Conference's historic endeavor as the first NCAA conference to offer varsity female flag football next year," said Rivera. "I want to thank [Vice President] Jill McCabe for entrusting me with this unique opportunity." 

Rivera also founded the Arlington-based Virginia Hurricanes Girls Basketball Club in 2008, which currently has over 150 girls playing ranging from third grade through high school. 

Last summer, the Atlantic East Conference, in partnership with the NFL and RCX Sports, along with support from the Philadelphia Eagles, announced its plan to be the first NCAA Conference - Division I, II or III - to offer varsity female flag football with an anticipated start date of Spring 2025. 

Women's collegiate flag football features seven players on a football field 40 yards in width by 80 yards in length. Each team moves offensively by running or passing a football, while the defense tries to "tackle" by pulling flags on the belt of the ball carrier. 

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