Women's Flag Football | 5/26/2026 10:19:00 AM
MIAMI SHORES, Fla.— Flip Largaespada, who led the club flag football program for three years, has been tabbed to move the program to varsity status, director of athletics and recreation, Dr. Scott Smith, announced today.
She brings over 20 years of experience in the sport, from playing, coaching and officiating.
"Coach Flip was instrumental in the development of our club team," Smith said. "I look forward to working with her full-time as the head coach of our program as it moves to varsity status."
Largaespada has led the club team for the last three years. In addition to the Bucs' club team, she has also coached the South Florida ELITE travel team since June 2021. In 2021-22, she led the ELITES to a pair of team championships in 7s and carried the 5s to a national championship. In 2022-23, the team won five tournament titles and a national club championship in the 7s.
"I'm incredibly honored and excited to be named the head coach of the new varsity flag football program at Barry University," Largaespada said. "After spending the last three seasons building and leading the club program, this moment means a great deal to me because I've seen firsthand the passion, commitment, and growth of our student-athletes and what this program can become. Helping transition Barry flag football from a club sport to a varsity program is a major milestone, not only for the university, but for the continued growth of women's flag football overall.
"This opportunity also represents a new chapter in my life personally and professionally. After working in the health care field for more than 20 years, stepping into a full-time coaching role is both humbling and exciting. Coaching has always been a passion of mine, and I'm grateful for the chance to fully invest in mentoring, developing, and leading young athletes every day.
"I want to thank Barry University for believing in the vision for this program and trusting me to lead it into this new era. We're ready to build something special, establish a strong culture, compete at a high level, and continue growing."
The Bucs will begin play in the spring of 2027 as an independent in NCAA Division II.
