Next spring, students across Azusa Pacific University’s campus will hear whistles blow and crowds erupt with cheers as the Cougars find the end zone. Football is back at APU in a big way, but not just for the university’s male student athletes: spring 2027 will mark the inaugural season of women’s flag football, first as a club sport, with integration to full intercollegiate competition in 2027-28.
This strategic decision reflects APU’s commitment to expanding competitive opportunities for female student athletes while leveraging the fastest-growing youth sport among American women and girls. As flag football heads toward its debut at the 2028 L.A. Olympics, APU is fast-tracking its own program to give female athletes a dynamic new platform on which to compete.
Coach Beatty’s Legacy of Leadership
To usher in this new era, APU selected Bo Beatty ’94, MAEd ’00, as the program’s inaugural head coach. A beloved figure within the Cougar community, Beatty brings decades of experience and a deep-rooted connection to APU. His history at APU began in 1992 as a linebacker under legendary head football coach Jim Milhon, followed by a coaching tenure on the APU sidelines that spanned nearly four decades, including time as assistant head coach and strength and conditioning coach. During that span, Beatty helped guide the Cougars to an NAIA National Championship in 1998 and four conference titles while mentoring numerous All-Americans and future coaches.
Beatty is thrilled to return to APU and build a special program from the ground up. “It’s incredibly exciting that we’re going to have a platform for young women to come to APU and grow in this amazing sport I love,” Beatty said. “For them to get the same experience that so many male student athletes have had of God First transformational football is going to be so impactful.”
Building a Unified Football Ecosystem
One of the unique aspects of this new era is how the university will seamlessly pair the flag football program with its returning men’s tackle football team. This will include creating shared systems of academic, athletic, and spiritual support, streamlined operations, and collaborative training environments. APU hopes to build a unified football ecosystem that maximizes efficiency while honoring the distinct competitive environments of each program.
Beatty will continue serving as assistant head coach/linebackers coach for the men’s football program, playing a key role in a strategic vision that integrates the two teams into a unified system. He believes that this shared culture is a game-changer.
The energy we’ll have from myself and others who will serve on both coaching staffs is going to be something that makes this an exemplary destination. We are building a culture where every athlete feels truly valued and supported as they grow on and off the field.Bo Beatty '94, MAEd '00
Fast-Paced Excitement
For alumni and fans who haven’t witnessed collegiate flag football, the pace and energy are unmatched.
“It makes you fall in love with the game instantly,” Beatty said. “If you come and watch one game, you’re going to come back to watch more, just because of how exciting they are and the passion with which our girls will play.”
While flag football has exploded in popularity in part because it’s considered a much safer game than its tackle counterpart, there is still an immense amount of physicality. Beatty has enjoyed watching his daughter fall in love with the game in the same way he did, as she lays it all on the line in each game.
“The athletes go a million miles an hour,” he said. “They want to win, and they compete with the same intensity that our players on the men’s team do. Any student athlete who puts on the Brick and Black is going to give their all in this game to bring glory to Christ.”
A Foundation of Faith and Mentorship
As Beatty builds the roster, he’s focused on recruiting students who are interested in holistic development. He noted the need for speed and athleticism, key traits for success in flag football, but character fit is just as important as talent for the Cougars.
“The three pillars of the program are: love Jesus, work hard, and treat people right,” Beatty said. “Though the first pillar represents a personal decision, and some of the students we recruit might not have relationships with Jesus yet, by the time they graduate from APU, I hope that’s the most important pillar of their life.”
Beatty’s ultimate goal for his players mirrors the university’s mission:
This deep desire to mentor young women stems from Beatty’s transformative experience as a student at APU, having come here from a single-parent family.
“I was not strong in my faith when I arrived at APU,” he said, “but because of the coaches I had during my time here, my faith became the most important part of my life.”
Beatty aims to impart those lessons to his athletes. He wants to focus on establishing patterns and bringing in coaches who model and teach them, making sure his players have spaces to intentionally grow in their faith: “Those are important lessons for our players to go and establish before they leave here, so they can replicate the life-changing experience they have for many others after they graduate.”
Calling All APU Alumni: The Future of Cougar Football
As the Cougars prepare for their inaugural flag football season, excitement is already surging across campus and throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Beatty said seven athletes committed to APU within two weeks of the announcement, noting that the interest from prospective students has been overwhelming.
“This is a special place, and the students feel that the moment they step foot onto our campus,” Beatty said. “Their excitement when they walk into the stadium is palpable as they envision themselves playing for the Cougars. When they see our facilities, the quality of our academic programs, the close-knit community we have, and how everyone here is working to grow in their faith, they’re drawn to APU, and their friends get drawn here too.”
Building a top-tier program requires significant community backing, and Beatty hopes the APU alumni network will step up to lay a strong foundation: “I know we’re going to need mentors for the young women in the program, ideally past APU female athletes whom our current students can relate to and talk to about their experience.”
Ultimately, Beatty wants the APU community to connect with the team, and he looks forward to seeing alumni come out to support the Cougars at games.
“I’d love for men’s tackle and women’s flag football to be the bridge back to APU for our alumni,” he said. “You’ll be filled up by an afternoon of fun competition from our amazing student athletes.”
As APU continues its storied legacy of successful athletics programs, this new chapter of women’s flag football promises to be a spectator favorite and a testament to the transformational power of God First football.