CSM selects Javaux-Major to lead new Flag Football program

OMAHA, Neb. – If timing is everything, then the timing of College of Saint Mary's entrance into the flag football world might prove to be impeccable.

After all, when CSM needed to hire a coach to lead it through that entrance, Nancy Javaux-Major answered the call. Both parties believe it's a partnership with the potential to grow not only the athletic department, but the campus itself.

Javaux-Major (pronounced juh-VOE) has been selected to lead the Flames' fledgling program, which will begin competition in the spring of 2027. She began her new role on Oct. 6.

"Flag football's in a unique time, and I think College of Saint Mary's diving in at a really good time,'' she said. "I think the number of women who want to go to school to play flag football outnumbers the amount of teams there are.''

Flag football is played 7 v 7, and CSM's home games will be played at the current soccer complex on campus.

CSM Director of Athletics Robbie Shay believes the school has selected the ideal person.

"The main three reasons I'm super excited about Coach Major is because of her ties to the state of Nebraska, her ties to the flag football world and her ties to women's professional football,'' he said. "All of those things benefit CSM flag football, and I think she's going to do a great job.''

Javaux-Major has held a passion for football for more than 18 years. After finishing her soccer career at Grand View University in Des Moines, where she was a three-year captain, she learned about a women's tackle football team in the area.

"I went to a couple practices and the next thing I knew, I was all in,'' she said with a chuckle.

That began a 16-year playing career filled with bumps, bruises and teammates for which she cared deeply.

"I think it's the camaraderie, the competition,'' she said. "The family aspect, having a group of individuals that you can lean on.''

Early in her playing career, Javaux-Major was introduced to a coach who worked for USA Football. She joined the organization and became a master trainer, sharing her knowledge of both tackle and flag football to high school and youth coaches nationwide.

She has been a head coach, a coordinator and a position coach for several women's tackle football teams, including the Iowa Crush, Iowa Phoenix and Nebraska Pride. Javaux-Major is currently a consultant for the Pride, and as head coach and general manager of the organization in 2024 they won the Women's Football Alliance D2 national championship.

With her wealth of experience at the semi-professional level in Nebraska, Javaux-Major can't wait to unveil the first flag football team at CSM. She's already hitting the recruiting trail heavily.

"Some of the values that the school had when I started to look at it were really appealing,'' she said. "I think it's in a great location. A lot of the girls that I've seen in flag want to get into the medical and education fields, those careers where they're helping people, so I think there's a good chance we can attract some pretty good talent here and get a good team together.''

The ability to build something from the ground up is particularly enticing to the new Flames coach.

"As a coach, that 'aha moment' in players is really cool to see,'' Javaux-Major said. "As they develop and come together and first learn how to do certain things or play together as a group, that's the exciting part of it I think for me.''