USA FOOTBALL ADDS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION SHARON VASQUEZ TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
– Sharon Vasquez joins board during sport’s exciting international ascension –
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – USA Football, the sport’s National Governing Body responsible for selecting, training and leading Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football for international competitions, including the 2028 Olympics, announced today that U.S. National Team alumni Sharon Vasquez has joined its Board of Directors.
Vasquez joins USA Football’s Board of Directors as the sport’s combined participation across all game-types increases both in the U.S. and abroad. Much of this growth is being driven by increased access to the sport and flag football’s rapidly approaching Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
“USA Football is thrilled to welcome Sharon Vasquez to its Board of Directors,” said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. “Sharon’s experience and dedication will assist in guiding and supporting our mission to set sport standards, deliver world-class football development resources and offer premier competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level, especially as football’s popularity rises across the world.”
Vasquez’s success spans both tackle and flag football. As an athlete, she earned gold medals with USA Football’s U.S. Women’s Tackle National Team at the 2010 and 2013 International Federation of American Football’s (IFAF) Women's World Championship. Vasquez was the defensive MVP in 2010, when the U.S. shut out Canada in the gold medal match in Sweden.
Vasquez was an early pioneer and leader in women’s tackle football. She won three championships with the Pittsburgh Passion in the Independent Women's Football League while tallying All-Star honors eight times.
Vasquez also earned a silver medal with the U.S. Women’s Flag National Team at IFAF’s Flag Football World Championship, making her one of the only athletes in National Team history to medal in both disciplines.
Since transitioning to coaching, Vasquez has led Woodland Hills High School’s girls’ flag football team to back-to-back sectional championships and the 2024 NFL Regional Championship as a head coach. She currently serves as the inaugural head coach of Point Park University’s women’s flag football program, which competes at the NCAA Division II level.
In her efforts to create more opportunities for girls and women to play and thrive in football, Vasquez founded HER Elite Flag Football. She is the program’s CEO and is quickly growing it to help the next generation of athletes develop and compete at the highest levels.
About USA Football: USA Football is the National Governing Body (NGB) for American Football in the United States and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), the international governing body for the sport of American football. USA Football selects, trains and leads Team USA Football® in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways. For more information, visit usafootball.com.