Flag’s on Fire

Episode 20 features Team USA Women's National Team coach MK Beach, who offers an inside look at what it truly takes to compete and coach at the highest level of international flag football.

MK shares her journey from playing youth flag and tackle football to representing Team USA as a player before transitioning onto the national team's coaching staff. She discusses the evolution of the Team USA selection process, the explosive growth of women's flag football, and why the Olympic pathway is changing the future of the sport forever.

One of the highlights of the conversation is an in-depth Coach's Corner segment, where MK walks through exactly how she breaks down game film, identifies tendencies, prepares scouting reports, and simplifies hours of analysis into just five key coaching points for her players. Whether you're a coach, player, or football junkie, this is a rare look behind the curtain at the preparation required to win on the world stage.

We also dive into:

• The growth of Team USA and the Olympic pathway
• Why multi-sport athletes often become elite flag players
• The psychology of coaching female athletes
• Why communication and simplicity win championships
• Defensive strategy, film study, and coaching philosophy
• Her thoughts on the most underrated position in flag football, intentional grounding, international rivalries, and much more.

If you're serious about becoming a better coach, player, or simply want to understand what separates the world's best programs from everyone else, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In Episode 19 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Josh Saunders, the head coach at Robinson High School in Florida, whose program has captured 11 state championships, including an incredible 10 consecutive titles. He also coaches with Team USA and the University of Florida club program, giving him a unique perspective on the evolution of the sport from the youth level to international competition.

In this conversation we discuss:

 How Robinson High School became a national powerhouse

 The culture that led to 10 straight state championships

 Why quarterback development is the biggest challenge in today's game

 The importance of timing, repetition, and throwing thousands of routes in practice

 How film study transformed his program

 Coaching standards vs. coaching the scoreboard

 How girls flag football has exploded in Florida

 Coaching with Team USA and the future of Olympic flag football

 Plus, Josh shares details about the upcoming flag football coaching book he's co-authored with Matt Hernandez.

Whether you're a coach, player, parent, or simply passionate about the growth of flag football, this episode is packed with practical coaching lessons and leadership principles that extend far beyond the football field.

If you enjoy conversations with the coaches and players shaping the future of flag football, be sure to subscribe and join us as we count down to the 2028 Olympic Games.

#FlagFootball #JoshSaunders #TeamUSA #FlagsOnFire #FootballCoaching #HighSchoolFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #QuarterbackDevelopment #Leadership #USAFootball #Olympics2028 #CoachLife #FloridaFlagFootball #RobinsonHighSchool #PlayCalling #FootballCulture #FootballPodcast

What separates great flag football coaches from everyone else?

In this episode of Flags on Fire, Team USA assistant coach and Baker University head coach Willie Perez pulls back the curtain on the philosophies that have helped make him one of the most respected offensive minds in flag football.

Willie shares his unlikely journey from a baseball player in Miami to coaching Team USA, how his daughter inspired him to begin coaching, and the sacrifices his family made so he could build Baker University's nationally recognized program from the ground up.

Then the conversation shifts into a true coaching masterclass.

Willie explains:

• Why he calls his offense a "circus"
• How he creates explosive plays using motion and eye candy
• The quarterback reads that separate elite players from average ones
• How to attack Cover 2, Cover 3, and man coverage
• Why Team USA's offense is so difficult to defend
• How he develops quarterbacks to make adjustments on the field—not just follow plays
• The recruiting traits he looks for in athletes
• Why versatility matters more than specializing in a single position

Whether you're a coach, quarterback, player, or simply love learning the X's and O's of flag football, this conversation is packed with insights from one of the game's brightest offensive innovators.

Subscribe for more conversations with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping the future of flag football as the sport heads toward the 2028 Olympic Games.

#FlagFootball #TeamUSA #WilliePerez #FlagsOnFire #BakerUniversity #Olympics2028 #FootballCoaching #Quarterback #PlayDesign #XandO #WomenInSports #USAFootball #CoachLife #FootballStrategy #SevenOnSeven #NFLFLAG

In this episode, I sit down with Team USA Women's National Team quarterback Akemi Higa, one of the brightest young stars in flag football and a rising leader on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Akemi shares her incredible journey from growing up in Hawaii to moving to Las Vegas in pursuit of greater opportunities in flag football—a decision that ultimately helped her earn a spot as QB1 for Team USA.

We dive deep into much more than her story...

🏈 In this episode we discuss:

• How Akemi developed into an elite quarterback
• The sacrifices her family made to help her chase her dream
• The biggest differences between youth, high school, and Team USA flag football
• How elite quarterbacks study film and recognize defensive tendencies
• Reading defenses before and after the snap
• Quarterback mechanics unique to flag football
• Why leadership isn't always about being the loudest player
• What it was like competing for a spot on Team USA
• Summer Series, Canada, and preparing for international competition
• The future of women's flag football leading into the 2028 Olympics

Akemi also breaks down actual game film from one of her biggest high school playoff games, explaining her thought process before the snap, how she manipulated defenders with her eyes, and why timing is everything in elite flag football.

Whether you're a quarterback, coach, parent, or simply a fan of the fastest-growing sport in the world, you'll come away with valuable insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level.

👍 If you enjoy conversations with the biggest names in flag football, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Flags on Fire.

#FlagFootball #TeamUSA #AkemiHiga #Olympics2028 #Quarterback #WomensFlagFootball #USAFootball #FootballIQ #QBTraining #FlagFootballPodcast #FlagsOnFire #GirlsFlagFootball #OlympicFlagFootball #FootballCoaching #FilmStudy

🏈 How do you build a Division I flag football program from the ground up?In Episode 16 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Angela Villarreal, the inaugural head coach of Charleston Southern University's women's flag football program.Coach Villarreal shares her incredible journey from playing Division I basketball to becoming one of the newest Division I flag football coaches in the country. We discuss what she's looking for in recruits, how scholarships are changing the sport, why basketball players often transition so well into flag football, and what young athletes can do today to play at the collegiate level.We also cover:🏈 Building a Division I program from scratch🏈 Recruiting philosophy and what college coaches really want🏈 The explosive growth of girls flag football🏈 USA Football's Select Bowl and Summer Series🏈 Why character matters just as much as athletic ability🏈 The best advice for young athletes chasing college opportunities🏈 Why defense still wins championships🏈 The future of women's flag football leading into the 2028 OlympicsWhether you're a player, coach, parent, or simply passionate about the future of football, this episode is packed with valuable insight from one of the sport's rising leaders.🔥 Subscribe for weekly conversations with the coaches, players, and innovators helping shape the future of flag football.#FlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #CollegeFlagFootball #NCAA #CharlestonSouthern #TeamUSA #USAFootball #Olympics #LA2028 #FootballPodcast #FootballCoaching #Recruiting #StudentAthlete #DivisionI #FlagsOnFire

In this episode of Flags on Fire, I sit down with longtime flag football leader Matt Reimel to break down the incredible rise of flag football — from small local tournaments to the Olympic movement happening today.

Matt has seen nearly every side of the game:
🏈 Youth coach
🏈 Tournament director
🏈 NFL FLAG national leadership
🏈 USA Football
🏈 International competition
🏈 Team USA
🏈 Youth sports innovation with Zorts

We dive into:
✅ The early days of NFL FLAG
✅ Building one of the country’s biggest tournaments (“Beast of the East”)
✅ Coaching against and later mentoring Diana Flores
✅ How girls flag football exploded nationally
✅ What separates elite flag athletes
✅ Why Team USA players are different than NFL players in flag
✅ Coaching philosophy and offensive strategy
✅ The future of Olympic flag football
✅ The best players, tournaments, and football cultures Matt has ever seen

If you love football, coaching, youth sports, or the future of flag football — this episode is packed with stories and insight from someone who helped build the game from the ground up.

Subscribe for more conversations with top players, coaches, and leaders helping grow flag football worldwide.

#FlagFootball #NFLFLAG #TeamUSA #DianaFlores #Olympics #YouthFootball #FootballPodcast #FlagsOnFire #USAFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #IFAF #CoachLife #FootballCoaching #7on7 #SportsPodcast

What separates elite flag football programs from everyone else?

In Episode 14 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Nate Williams — assistant coach for the USA Football 15U Girls National Team, coach/director for Texas Fury, and one of the most respected minds in women’s flag football.

We dive deep into:
🏈 How Texas Fury built a national powerhouse
🏈 The mindset behind developing elite athletes
🏈 Why preparation and adjustments matter more than playbooks
🏈 Building pipelines to college flag football opportunities
🏈 Defensive strategy, matchups, and in-game adjustments
🏈 The future growth of women’s flag football and the Olympics

Nate also shares his journey from Ohio to Texas, lessons from coaching at the highest levels, and what truly separates championship programs from everybody else.

If you’re serious about coaching, player development, women’s flag football, or learning how elite teams think and prepare — this episode delivers a ton of value.

🔥 Subscribe to Flags on Fire for more conversations with top coaches, athletes, and leaders growing the game of women’s flag football.

#FlagsOnFire #FlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #TexasFury #USAFootball #NateWilliams #GirlsFlagFootball #FootballCoaching #FlagFootballCoach #OlympicFlagFootball #NFLFlag #WomenInSports #SportsPodcast #DefensiveCoordinator #FootballIQ #5on5Football #YouthFootball #HighSchoolFlagFootball #CollegeFlagFootball #FootballCulture #GameChanger #CoachingMindset #AthleteDevelopment #FootballStrategy

 EPISODE 13 OUT NOW 

Lainie Dorow joins Flags on Fire after leading St. Joseph’s High School to back-to-back state championships in Michigan flag football.

One of my earliest guests, Nick Sandona, once told me Lainie was the best flag football QB he had ever seen in person — and after this conversation, it’s easy to understand why.

We talked about:
 Winning consecutive state titles
 The growth of girls flag football in Michigan
 Why the sport still isn’t sanctioned there yet
 Balancing high-level basketball and flag football
 Her future college aspirations and recruiting goals

Lainie is one of the rising names to know in girls flag football.

#FlagsOnFire #GirlsFlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #FlagFootball #LainieDorow #MichiganFlagFootball #HighSchoolFootball #Quarterback #GirlsSports #WomenInSports #OlympicFlagFootball #LA28 #StudentAthlete #DualSportAthlete #StJosephHighSchool

In this episode of Flags on Fire Podcast, I sit down with Melinda Nguyen from UT Arlington Mavericks to discuss the rapid growth of women’s college flag football and what it takes to build a program in one of the biggest football states in America.

We dive into:

• the rise of women’s flag football in Texas
• building culture in a new college program
• recruiting and athlete development
• the future of collegiate flag football
• opportunities created by the sport’s Olympic momentum
• why women’s flag football is only getting started

Women’s flag football is expanding rapidly across high schools and colleges nationwide, and programs like UT Arlington are helping shape the next generation of athletes and coaches.

Subscribe for more interviews with coaches, players, and leaders growing the game of flag football across the country.

#FlagsOnFire #FlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #UTArlington #TexasFlagFootball #CollegeFlagFootball #NFLFlag #Olympics2028 #GirlsFlagFootball #WomenInSports

Shawn “Flash” Theard is one of the most electrifying players in flag football and a major reason Team USA’s defense continues to dominate on the world stage.In this episode of Flags on Fire, Sean shares his journey from growing up in Louisiana and playing traditional football to being discovered at a tournament and introduced to the world of competitive flag football. What started as an opportunity quickly turned into a relentless pursuit of greatness as Sean climbed the national tournament circuit and eventually earned recognition from Team USA.We dive into:• Sean’s football upbringing in Louisiana• How he first got introduced to flag football• The moment people realized he was different• The grind of the tournament circuit• What it takes mentally and physically to become an elite rusher• Team USA culture and competing at the highest level• Why many consider him the best rusher in the worldIf you want to understand the speed, instincts, pressure, and mindset behind elite flag football defense, this episode delivers.#FlagsOnFire #FlagFootball #TeamUSA #SeanFlashIII #NFLFLAG #Olympics #LA28 #USAFootball #FootballPodcast #GirlsFlagFootball #MensFlagFootball #FlagFootballLife #AthleteMindset #DefensiveMonster #Rusher #TeamUSAFootball #FootballCulture #LouisianaFootball #RoadToTheOlympics