Philly Leader

The campaign to enhance girls' flag football in Pennsylvania has a dedicated leader in Tim Quinn, the Girls Flag Football Coach of the Week from Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School. For more than a decade, Quinn and his family have worked tirelessly to establish the sport's foundation.

Tim Quinn, alongside his wife Katie and their four daughters—Caitlin, Kara, Keira, and Krista—initiated their journey into flag football as spectators of their son Timmy’s team at a national event in Disney World. The push to create a space for girls in this sport saw the family launch the Athena Warriors flag program in 2018. "We called around everywhere that we could," Quinn recounted. "Despite the connections we had from running tournaments and teams, no one would support a girls' team. So, we talked to USA Football, and they talked us into forming Athena."

Their dedication has yielded impressive results. Since its inception, Athena has seen over 350 girls join its ranks. Despite initial resistance, Tim Quinn worked to promote the sport at a high school level and gained significant support from the Eagles who started their Girls Flag Football League in 2022.

Quinn's involvement with Gwynedd Mercy's team was prompted by one of his former players. Beginning with 17 players, the team now boasts 45 members and has demonstrated competitive success, reaching the semifinals in its first two years and the championship last year after an undefeated season. This year, they are working towards capturing the championship title.

Reflecting on the efforts and progress, Quinn noted, "At the end of the day, people are not going to remember our role in this. What they are going to remember, though, is that girls stepped to the forefront and led this effort to change the sports culture in their school, to allow girls to play football. And that would have never happened without the Eagles and their support."

Quinn acknowledged the influence of the Eagles on the sport’s expansion. "I'm forever in debt to them (Eagles)," he stated, highlighting the pivotal role the organization played for his daughters and the broader community of players under his guidance.

Quinn’s daughters have embraced their father's passion. Caitlin plays at Milligan University, Kara assists her father in coaching at Gwynedd Mercy, Krista is on the Milligan team, and Keira competes for Gwynedd.

Quinn expressed pride in what the family has achieved. "I think that the biggest thing is, I've been so blessed to do what I'm doing. And a lot of it really just came out of my love for my kids and my wife and I have been a great team.”

The Quinn family’s influence has not only transformed opportunities for girls at Gwynedd Mercy but also in Pennsylvania at large. "I don't see this game ever going away," Quinn asserted. "It's really just been so rewarding, I love what's going on."

As the sport continues to grow, it marks a significant cultural shift. Sport has long been male-dominated, but girls' flag football offers young women an opportunity to claim their place. "I think the idea of stepping into a culture that has been so male dominated for such a long time, really is what's engaging to women," Quinn concluded.