SALT LAKE CITY — Westminster University Athletics announced today the hiring of Natalie Parsons as the first head coach of its women's flag football program. The Griffins begin play as a club sport in fall 2027.
Parsons, a Westminster alumna and former Griffins women's basketball student-athlete, brings more than 10 years of competitive flag football experience to the program.
"Natalie has a strong vision for this program, and her community ties will be invaluable as we build for the future," said Westminster University Athletic Director Shelley Jarrard. "Having coached Natalie during her time as a Westminster women's basketball student-athlete, I've seen firsthand the commitment, competitiveness and care she brings to a team. She now brings that same drive—along with more than a decade of flag football experience and a strong understanding of quarterback play—to lead our first women's flag football team. We're excited to welcome Natalie back to Westminster and have her build this program from the ground up."
Parsons currently serves as an assistant coach for the Skyridge High School girls flag football team, where she is the team's quarterback coach. In that role, she works with quarterbacks on mechanics, decision-making, reads and game preparation, and assists with offensive scheme development and game planning.
As a player, Parsons has spent five-plus years as a quarterback for the Utah Sting, competing at the Pro Division level in iFlag tournaments. In August 2025, she competed in the Pro Division at the iFlag Las Vegas tournament and won both the Air It Out and Non-Contact divisions. She was also selected by iFlag as one of the top quarterbacks at the Tampa World Tournament and has won an iFlag tournament in the competitive division.
Parsons played collegiate women's basketball at Salt Lake Community College and Rutgers University before completing her senior season at Westminster.
She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Utah and has worked as a physical therapist at the University of Utah's Farmington Health Center since 2022.
"I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead Westminster's women's flag football program and help build something special from the ground up," said Natalie Parsons, Westminster Women's Flag Football Head Coach. "Flag football has been a huge part of my life for the past 10 years, and being an alumna of Westminster makes this opportunity especially meaningful. Having experienced the school's culture firsthand, I'm excited to give back to a community that has played such an important role in my journey. I look forward to building a program that reflects Westminster's values, creates opportunities for student-athletes to grow, and helps pave the way for the next generation of women in sports."
Current and prospective Westminster students interested in joining the founding team can contact Shelley Jarrard at sjarrard@westminsteru.edu. Follow the program on Instagram at @wugriffinsflagfb.
About Westminster Athletics
Westminster University is a member of the NCAA II and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Westminster is a private, independent, and comprehensive university in Salt Lake City, Utah. Students experience the liberal arts blended with professional programs in an atmosphere grounded in wellness. With the goal of enabling its graduates to live vibrant, just, and successful lives, Westminster provides transformational learning experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students in a student-centered environment. Faculty focus on teaching, learning, and developing distinctive, innovative programs, while students thrive on Westminster's urban Sugar House campus within minutes of the Rocky Mountains.
