Evanee Cooper Chosen to Start MBU Women’s Flag Football Program

ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University announced Thursday the hiring of Evanee Cooper as the first head coach of its new women's flag football program, which is set to begin competition in the spring of 2027.

Cooper will lead the Spartans as the university adds varsity flag football beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and continuing the growth of MBU Athletics.

"We're excited to welcome Evanee to lead our new program," said MBU Director of Athletics Jeff Fore. "She brings firsthand experience as a collegiate student-athlete along with a strong background in coaching and player development. We believe she is the right person to build our flag football program from the ground up."

A 2025 graduate of Reinhardt University, Cooper earned a bachelor's degree in sports studies, graduating magna cum laude. She competed as a women's flag football student-athlete at Reinhardt and has since gained coaching experience at the high school level in Newnan, Georgia.

Cooper currently serves as a head and assistant girls' flag football coach, overseeing practice planning, player evaluation, and game preparation. She has designed and implemented offensive and defensive schemes, led skill development sessions, and emphasized leadership, discipline, and football IQ among her student-athletes. She also serves as an assistant girls' basketball coach, supporting practice organization and individual skill development.

In addition to her coaching background, Cooper has been involved in recruiting and event operations, assisting with the planning and execution of prospect camps and outreach to high school flag football programs. She has also volunteered with Kids and Pros Inc. in Atlanta, helping organize youth football camps and working with more than 100 athletes on skill development and player safety.

"I am incredibly honored and grateful to join the Missouri Baptist University community and begin building this program alongside such an incredible institution," said Cooper. "My vision is to create more than a team; I want to build a family where young women feel valued, challenged, and inspired to grow into the leaders they were created to be. Flag football is opening doors that did not exist for many of us growing up, and I want this program to be a place where opportunity, belief, and purpose meet. I'm excited to build a culture rooted in faith, discipline, and unity, one where our athletes feel valued, empowered, and prepared to make an impact both on and off the field."

The Spartans' new program will offer athletic scholarship opportunities and provide access to the same athletic training, strength and conditioning, and academic support resources available to all MBU varsity teams.

Women's flag football continues to grow at the collegiate level. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics National Administrative Council Executive Committee approved Women's Flag Football as an invitational sport for the 2025-26 season after the sport launched as an emerging sport in 2021.

Recruiting for the inaugural roster is underway, with additional details regarding schedule and competition to be announced at a later date.

If you are interested in being recruited, fill out the MBU Flag Football Recruit Questionnaire here.

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