The University of Maryland Eastern Shore hired alumnus Duane Tolson as head coach of its newly established women’s flag football team. The university announced the move Aug. 10, 2026, as the program prepares for its inaugural season in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore announced the addition of women’s flag football in June. The team will compete in the MEAC beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
Duane Tolson Brings More Than 20 Years of Coaching Experience
Tolson brings more than 20 years of coaching, leadership and sports administration experience to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He most recently served as head girls flag football coach at KIPP Legacy, which posted a 10-1-1 record during the 2026 spring season and reached a postseason championship game under his leadership.
Before becoming KIPP Legacy’s head coach, Tolson spent five seasons as an assistant coach at KIPP College Preparatory. His experience also includes work across scholastic, adult and league flag football.
Tolson founded the Coastal Women’s Flag Football League in 2015 and has owned and operated the MESPORTS Coed Sports League since 2008. Since 2017, he has served as head coach of the Alter Egos men’s, women’s and coed flag football teams.
His previous roles included owner and head coach of the Young Guns Coed Flag Football Team from 2008 to 2013, head coach of the Sharks Women’s Flag Football Team from 2013 to 2015, and co-head coach of the Capitol Punishment Women’s Flag Football Team from 2015 to 2016. Tolson also previously led the girls junior varsity basketball program and summer league girls basketball team at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Maryland.
Tolson is a 2000 graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He will now lead the university’s women’s flag football program into its first season.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore Begins Women’s Flag Football Program
“As we prepare to launch our women’s flag football program, we are excited to welcome Coach Tolson to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,” said Vice President of Athletics Tara A. Owens. “Coach Tolson has shown the ability to develop and build competitive teams while possessing a great knowledge of the game. With his guidance on and off the field, UMES will serve as a model for the promotion and growth of women’s flag football. We also look forward to contributing to the sport’s development at the collegiate level and welcome members of our community to support this initiative.”
Tolson said he appreciated the university’s decision to bring women’s flag football to campus and select him to lead the program. “It is an exciting time at UMES,” Tolson said. “I want to thank the University leadership team for officially bringing women’s flag football to UMES and for choosing me to lead the program. We are going to build a team of young ladies who will proudly and positively represent UMES on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s hiring of Duane Tolson gives its inaugural women’s flag football program a coach with experience at the scholastic, adult and league levels. His most recent team, KIPP Legacy, went 10-1-1 and reached a postseason championship game during the 2026 spring season.
Tolson will lead the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s flag football team as it enters MEAC competition in the 2026-27 academic year.
Source: Original report
