USC Upstate Announces the Hire of Noah Harris as Inaugural Flag Football Program Head Coach
4/2/2026 4:00:00 PM | Flag Football
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- USC Upstate Athletics has announced the hiring of Noah Harris as the inaugural head coach of its women's flag football program. Harris will lead the Spartans into their first season of competition in 2026–27.
Harris brings more than a decade of coaching experience to Spartanburg, including extensive time building and leading flag football programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. He will arrive at USC Upstate following his third season as head coach at Southwestern College (Kan.), where he helped launch the program.
In the Moundbuilders' inaugural season in Spring 2025, Harris guided the program to a 7–10 record, laying a strong foundation for future success. Currently, the program is 6-3 in the 2026 season.
"Noah stood out to us early in the search as someone who has been around the game for several years, built a program and understands the true nature of the student-athlete experience," said Matt Martin, Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. "We are thrilled to get this program started under his direction."
Harris enters his 12th season as a head coach, including eight years leading flag football programs in Fairbanks, Alaska. At West Valley High School, his teams captured three Interior Conference championships over a six-year span. He also served as the boys basketball head coach at Effie Kokrine Charter School, where he made program history by leading the team to its first-ever state tournament appearance in March 2022.
"I am thrilled and honored to take on the head coaching role at USC Upstate," Harris said. "It was clear from my first conversation that Matt and the USC Upstate team believe in what this program can become. I am ready to hit the ground running with Spartan flag football."
Harris is no stranger to building programs from the ground up. Southwestern marked his second experience leading an inaugural team, and he now brings that same vision to USC Upstate as the Spartans prepare for their first season.
A former student-athlete, Harris was a four-year starter at safety at Kentucky Wesleyan College and later played indoor arena football for the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Kentucky Wesleyan, where he was also recognized as an Academic All-Conference selection.
The addition of women's flag football reflects USC Upstate's continued commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes and investing in emerging sports. Harris will immediately begin building the program's roster and infrastructure ahead of the 2026–27 inaugural season.
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On March 31, the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers approved the addition of Women's Flag Football starting with the 2027-28 academic year. Flag Football was added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program on Jan. 16, and the Big South is the first Division I multi-sport conference to sponsor the sport. Women's Flag Football will become the 19th sport sponsored by the Big South.
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All hires by the University of South Carolina Upstate athletic department are subject to an approved background check.
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Harris brings more than a decade of coaching experience to Spartanburg, including extensive time building and leading flag football programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. He will arrive at USC Upstate following his third season as head coach at Southwestern College (Kan.), where he helped launch the program.
In the Moundbuilders' inaugural season in Spring 2025, Harris guided the program to a 7–10 record, laying a strong foundation for future success. Currently, the program is 6-3 in the 2026 season.
"Noah stood out to us early in the search as someone who has been around the game for several years, built a program and understands the true nature of the student-athlete experience," said Matt Martin, Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics. "We are thrilled to get this program started under his direction."
Harris enters his 12th season as a head coach, including eight years leading flag football programs in Fairbanks, Alaska. At West Valley High School, his teams captured three Interior Conference championships over a six-year span. He also served as the boys basketball head coach at Effie Kokrine Charter School, where he made program history by leading the team to its first-ever state tournament appearance in March 2022.
"I am thrilled and honored to take on the head coaching role at USC Upstate," Harris said. "It was clear from my first conversation that Matt and the USC Upstate team believe in what this program can become. I am ready to hit the ground running with Spartan flag football."
Harris is no stranger to building programs from the ground up. Southwestern marked his second experience leading an inaugural team, and he now brings that same vision to USC Upstate as the Spartans prepare for their first season.
A former student-athlete, Harris was a four-year starter at safety at Kentucky Wesleyan College and later played indoor arena football for the Fairbanks Grizzlies of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Kentucky Wesleyan, where he was also recognized as an Academic All-Conference selection.
The addition of women's flag football reflects USC Upstate's continued commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes and investing in emerging sports. Harris will immediately begin building the program's roster and infrastructure ahead of the 2026–27 inaugural season.
Â
On March 31, the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers approved the addition of Women's Flag Football starting with the 2027-28 academic year. Flag Football was added to the NCAA's Emerging Sports for Women program on Jan. 16, and the Big South is the first Division I multi-sport conference to sponsor the sport. Women's Flag Football will become the 19th sport sponsored by the Big South.
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All hires by the University of South Carolina Upstate athletic department are subject to an approved background check.
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