Caroline Schwartz, a seasoned coach with a passion for fostering talent and leadership, has been appointed as the head coach of Women’s Flag Football at Benedictine University.
She brings a wealth of athletic and teaching experiences to her new position. During her undergraduate years at the University of Illinois, she actively participated in the co-ed Flag Football League, enriching her own experiences.
Following her tenure at U of I, Coach Schwartz delved into the field of teaching. She taught middle school and high school in the Houston, Texas area and has gained diverse teaching experiences throughout the Chicago Public School system. Alongside her teaching roles, she also coached high school football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer. Currently, as of 2022, Coach Schwartz continues to teach computer science at Lane Tech High School.
In 2022, upon joining the Lane Tech community, Coach Schwartz played a pivotal role in establishing and leading the school’s first Girls' Flag Football team. Under her leadership as head coach, Lane Tech clinched the City Championship of Chicago and the 2nd Annual State Championship hosted by the Chicago Bears in the fall of 2023.
"Flag Football is breaking barriers for girls, opening doors to futures they never knew were possible, such as playing football at the college level or even becoming a member of Team USA in the 2028 Olympics," says Schwartz. "While there is still work to be done to achieve true equity in sports, girls and women are currently making waves in the sports world, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for women in sports and, specifically, women in football."
"In our discussions about Women's Flag Football, it became evident early on that Caroline was the ideal candidate to spearhead Benedictine University's venture into this exciting new endeavor," said Director of Athletics Paul Nelson. "Her unwavering passion for nurturing student-athletes, combined with her fervent ambition to foster the expansion of the sport and its accompanying opportunities, is truly remarkable. We are thrilled to have her in this pivotal role."
