MINNEAPOLIS -- Augsburg University is naming veteran player and coach Michele Braun as the head coach for the Auggies' growing women's flag football program, the university has announced.
 
In 2026, the NCAA officially added women's flag football to its Emerging Sports for Women program, creating a national framework for college championship competition and long-term growth. With the NCAA's Emerging Sports designation now in place, Augsburg women's flag football will compete this spring under NCAA eligibility standards.
 
Augsburg was part of a group of schools in the Upper Midwest that began women's flag football programs in 2025, through a partnership and grant program with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.
 
The sport continues to expand rapidly at the youth, high school and collegiate levels, and it will be a medal sport at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 2025, more than 50 Minnesota high schools participated in girls' flag football programs, with more than 100 expected to take part this season, reflecting the rapid uptake of the sport in secondary athletics.

 

"With the NCAA officially recognizing women's flag football as an emerging sport, this is a defining moment for colleges across the country," said Amy Cooper, Augsburg University Athletic Director. "We are excited to be part of that momentum, and we are confident that coach Braun is the right leader to build a program rooted in excellence, opportunity, and a strong student athlete experience. Michele brings the leadership presence, energy, and development focused approach that will help this program grow quickly and compete at a high level."
 
Braun brings more than 20 years of football experience to her new role at Augsburg. She has most recently served as an offensive assistant coach with the Auggies' men's football program, focusing on the offensive line and contributing to player development, strategic planning and team cohesion.
 
"I am very blessed & excited to be the head coach of Augsburg women's flag football," Braun said. "We aren't just here to play a new sport; we are here to set the standard for what Auggie flag football looks like. Today, we stop watching history and start writing it."
 
Since 2019, Braun has served as the offensive line coach for the Minnesota Vixen, consistently one of the top women's pro football teams in the country. She has produced numerous Women's Football Association All-Americans on the offensive line, including three in 2023, two in 2024 and two in 2025. Her offensive line has helped the Vixen to top-five rankings in the WFA in rushing yardage, passing yardage and touchdowns during the past eight seasons.
 
She played for 20 years on the offensive line and as a long snapper as one of the original members of the Minnesota Vixen, serving as team co-captain for multiple years and earning WFA All-Star honors three times. Braun was inducted into the Women's Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
 
Braun has also served as a personal fitness trainer at Sta-Fit in Sartell, Minn., since 2005, and served as a coach on the secondary level in St. Cloud, Minn. Braun earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from St. Cloud State University in 1992.