Dr. Courtney Pruitt on NJCAA Women’s Flag Football, Kilgore College, and Growing the Game

On this episode of East Texas Sports Now, Kilgore College athletic director Dr. Courtney Pruitt joins the show to discuss a major milestone for women’s athletics: the National Junior College Athletic Association elevating women’s flag football to championship sport status.

Pruitt, who serves as chair of the NJCAA women’s flag football sports committee, explains how the sport has rapidly grown at the junior college level and why the NJCAA wanted to create more opportunities for female student-athletes. She talks about the committee’s work, the expanding number of programs across the country, and how high school flag football growth is helping fuel the sport’s rise at the college level.

The conversation also explores the possibility of women’s flag football at Kilgore College, what that could look like in the future, and how the sport could give more East Texas athletes a chance to compete at the next level. Pruitt also discusses the excitement surrounding flag football becoming an Olympic sport in 2028 and why the game has become so appealing to athletes and fans.

Pruitt also reflects on her own journey in athletics, including becoming the first Black woman to serve as athletic director at Kilgore College, her time as a successful women’s basketball coach at Wiley College/Wiley University, and her induction into the Red River Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. She shares what it means to develop student-athletes beyond sports and help them become successful people in life.

The episode also highlights Pruitt’s East Texas roots as a proud Longview Lady Lobo, her connection to the Longview community, and why serving student-athletes close to home has been such a meaningful part of her career.

East Texas Sports Now, hosted by Kyle Owens, delivers fast-paced coverage of East Texas high school sports. Featuring game recaps, weekly matchups, player spotlights, and coach interviews across football, basketball, baseball, softball, and more. Stay locked in for scores, rankings, highlights, playoffs, and recruiting buzz with expert analysis and local sports talk for fans across the region.