Murray State College is bringing men’s and women’s flag football to Ardmore this fall, expanding athletic opportunities for students and paving the way for a new collegiate sport in the state of Oklahoma.
For the program’s inaugural year, Ardmore City Schools has partnered with Murray State College to provide access to its high school football stadium, allowing student-athletes to compete in a quality venue while the college pursues a major investment to expand on-campus athletic facilities in cooperation with the Lynn Colbert Board of Trustees. Their support is vitally important and appreciated. An announcement will be made this spring about the future development of these spaces.
“We’re making a significant investment in facilities of our own that will give flag football a permanent home in Ardmore while serving our students and the broader community,” said Dr. Tim Faltyn, president of Murray State College. “Flag football opens new doors for students to engage, compete and grow, and creates an opportunity for further investment in Ardmore.”
The addition of flag football reflects Murray State’s continued commitment to providing meaningful, student-centered opportunities while delivering high-quality educational and extracurricular experiences — a point of pride for the community. Over the last four years, the implementation of programs such as shotgun sports, bass fishing, cross-country and wrestling has created opportunities for students to engage with their peers and build a high standard of excellence across activity programs.
“We are confident in the program’s future trajectory based on Murray State’s history of successfully launching new athletic programs that have quickly earned regional and national recognition,” said Faltyn. “That proven model of strategic planning and comprehensive student-athlete support provides a strong foundation as flag football prepares to take the field in the years ahead.”
With national momentum building toward flag football’s debut on the Olympic stage in 2028, Murray State’s early investment positions the Aggies to lead the sport’s continued growth at the collegiate level. Over the next year, more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide are expected to sponsor flag football at the varsity or club level. Flag football also brings a new spectator experience for families and fans throughout southern Oklahoma. The accessible, fast-moving format is designed to draw strong community interest and further strengthen Murray State’s connection with the Ardmore area.
“This is an emerging sport in Oklahoma,” Faltyn said. “We’re proud to lead the way as the first public collegiate program in the state.”
Murray State will begin an immediate search for a head coach.
“Our number one priority is putting the right leadership in place to build this program the right way,” said Justin Cellum, Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations and acting Athletic Director. “We have created a culture of winning and excellence within our collegiate athletic culture, and we expect that to continue with the addition of flag football.”
The head coach position will be posted on mscok.edu/careers.