Haynie Named Inaugural Women’s Head Flag Football Coach

Bill Ross, director of athletics and recreation at Allegheny College, is proud to announce Tuesday the hiring of Abigail Haynie as the Gators' inaugural head women's flag football coach.

Haynie is tasked with building the women's flag football program from the ground up, with the team debuting as a club for its first season in spring 2026. One of the fastest-growing sports in the country at the high school and collegiate levels, the College anticipates elevating the team to varsity status in spring 2027, pending the NCAA's designation of flag football as an emerging sport for women. Additionally, Haynie will provide operational support for the club and recreation activities on campus.

I'm thrilled to join Allegheny College as the first-ever head women's flag football coach," Haynie said. "Through my love for the game, I aspire to support, encourage, and instill a sense of belonging in my players. The culture here at Allegheny College is unmatched, and I am so thankful to be a part of it.

"We are thrilled to welcome Abigail Haynie as the first head coach of Allegheny College women's flag football," Ross said. "Her passion for the game and vision for building this program make her the perfect leader to guide such a historic addition to Gator athletics. She is a great addition to our staff."

An Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, native, Haynie most recently served as an assistant coach for the girls flag football team at Seneca Valley Senior High School in the spring of 2025. The Raiders, who competed in the NFL-backed Pittsburgh Flag Football League, were third in their division with an 8-4 overall record. Seneca Valley opened its season with seven consecutive wins, including shutout victories against New Castle, Deer Lakes, Nazareth Prep, and North Catholic.

In addition to her coaching experience, Haynie spent three seasons as an offensive lineman and long snapper with the Pittsburgh Passion professional women's football team. The Passion went undefeated in the 2024 regular season and advanced to the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) National Conference championship game in each of the last two years. During the 2025 campaign, the Passion were a single point shy of qualifying for the WFA national championship game with a 35-34 loss to the D.C. Divas in the conference finals.

Haynie graduated from Geneva College in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology.