GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Monday afternoon, the Messiah University Athletics Department announced Ryan Brown as the inaugural head coach for women's flag football. Brown joins the coaching staff after 15 years working in the Mechanicsburg Area School District. Brown will begin immediately with the first season scheduled to begin in the spring of 2028. 
 
After graduation from Messiah in 2009, Brown immediately became a health and physical education teacher after graduation. Brown, along with teaching, was named the Health and PE Department Coordinator in 2023. Brown also spent time as an athletic director for Mechanicsburg Area Middle School from 2011-2013. Brown also earned his master's in exercise science and health promotion from California University of PA and is working on a masters in sport management at Liberty University.
 
Outside of working in education, Brown coached 9th grade football in Mechanicsburg from 2006-2011. Brown coached the offensive and defensive line, as well as being the Defensive Coordinator from 2009-2011. Brown is no stranger to Grantham as he worked on the Messiah Athletics strength and conditioning staff from 2023-2024. Brown also was the Director of Sports Performance for Keystone Football Club from 2015-2022 and has been the Fields and Facilities Supervisor for the club since 2022.
 
From Ryan Brown, "I'm extremely excited to join Messiah Athletics as the first ever Women's Flag Football Coach! I'm looking forward to getting this program running and helping student-athletes maximize their God-given talents and grow into Christlike leaders."
 
From Messiah University's Executive Director of Athletics, Dr. Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, "We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Brown as the founding head coach of our brand-new women's flag football program. Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports for women nationwide, and launching this program is a meaningful step for Messiah as we expand opportunities for female student-athletes. Ryan is the right person at the right time to build this program from the ground up. His passion for teaching, his commitment to leadership development, and his heart for mentoring student-athletes align perfectly with our mission. Equally important, his Christian faith is a natural fit for our community and will help shape the culture of this new program from day one."